Anyone here from University of Iowa?

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No, Isis is pretty slow to update when it comes to not getting in. It seemed like last year they put all the lower applicants in a pile and gave like the last 2 spots away at the end of feb. Then they let the people know they didnt get in. I called in on the day and that's how I found out I didn't get in, it took another two weeks into feb for Isis to update. Although I was told last year they took longer than usual.
 
I emailed Elaine today with a few questions. I got back the best news ever (for me). She answered my questions and informed me I had been accepted and said it'd show up on ISIS tomorrow. So those of you still waiting check ISIS tomorrow!
 
Checked ISIS today. Admission Decision: Not Accepted. (OOS)

Regardless, best of wishes to anyone still waiting!
 
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Hawkeye2011 said:
I emailed Elaine today with a few questions. I got back the best news ever (for me). She answered my questions and informed me I had been accepted and said it'd show up on ISIS tomorrow. So those of you still waiting check ISIS tomorrow!
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HEY CONGRATS!!!! I really really hope that I get some great news tomorrow 🙂
 
Thanks 😀 Good luck to everyone waiting still!

oledds, are you instate?
 
I got an email from Elaine yesterday! I got the same news! I'M IN!!!!
 
While I am happy for you all that have been accepted, I have to say it while gritting my teeth. I am in-state and still waiting. I was waitlisted last year. Even though I was told that my interview was good, my dat scores are good, and my gpa is good, I still got waitlisted pretty low on the list. Needless to say, I am feeling the same happening this time around and feel pretty helpless. Not that anyone cares, but that is my situation. Again, congratulations to all accepted; dentistry is a great field (the only one I have been working towards the past four and a half years).
 
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2frdy said:
While I am happy for you all that have been accepted, I have to say it while gritting my teeth. I am in-state and still waiting. I was waitlisted last year and the only reason I got that I didn't get accepted was that I attended a community college (4.0 at cc and 3.81 at U of I). Even though I was told that my interview was good, my dat scores are good, and my gpa is good, I still got waitlisted pretty low on the list. Needless to say, I am feeling the same happening this time around and feel pretty helpless. Not that anyone cares, but that is my situation. Again, congratulations to all accepted; dentistry is a great field (the only one I have been working towards the past four and a half years).
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Be hopeful! I lost hope, and then this was such a surprise.... i do not have nearly as great of gpa or pry scores as you, and they took, me, after rejecting me last year. so be hopeful!
 
In past years, the interview at Iowa has been unique (35+ Q's w/ under a minute for each response). I have heard reports that, this year, the interview process has been revamped. Can anyone confirm or deny this? If so, to what extent has it changed? I have an interview coming up and am unsure how to prepare so any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
DDSwanaB said:
In past years, the interview at Iowa has been unique (35+ Q's w/ under a minute for each response). I have heard reports that, this year, the interview process has been revamped. Can anyone confirm or deny this? If so, to what extent has it changed? I have an interview coming up and am unsure how to prepare so any suggestions would be appreciated.
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I also wanted to know about that. I went to the career center at Iowa for a mock interview, she told me this year the new format is 4 to 5 structured questions and then its more relaxed, open type of interview.
I wonder if everybody had that????

My interview is coming up too 🙂
 
Moonie87 said:
I also wanted to know about that. I went to the career center at Iowa for a mock interview, she told me this year the new format is 4 to 5 structured questions and then its more relaxed, open type of interview.
I wonder if everybody had that????

My interview is coming up too 🙂
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Yup, you've got it right. In past years, the interviews at Iowa have been like 30-something questions read off by someone in a monotone voice while you reply to them into a sound recorder. I was expecting that at my interview just this November, but instead there were 2 professors I met with who traded off in asking some structured questions at first (which they can't respond to or give you any indications about their opinion on your answer), and then we had a more open-ended conversation.

I got rejected for this upcoming class 🙁, but then again, I'm out-of-state. Good luck with your upcoming interview. The interview is closed file, so try to let them know as much about you as possible and don't let your nerves get the best of you! :xf:
 
DDSwanaB said:
In past years, the interview at Iowa has been unique (35+ Q's w/ under a minute for each response). I have heard reports that, this year, the interview process has been revamped. Can anyone confirm or deny this? If so, to what extent has it changed? I have an interview coming up and am unsure how to prepare so any suggestions would be appreciated.
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There are about 14 structured questions. they alternate between the two interviewers. Then there is maybe 5 or so unstructured questions, just going off a sheet and off of what you may have brought up already. then there is time for you to ask them questions. it is a closed interview, so talk about everything you feel is important, and makes you stand out. the first "structured" questions are normalish, why dentistry, why here, dexterity etc. then the interviewers normally losen up for the last 5. Its very nice interview, just relax!!!! GOOD LUCK!
 
UGH! So I tried to find out from Elaine how many spots are left. She told me there are still spots open (both in-state and oos) but would not say how many. Still no decision on my application...but after Jan. 14th, all instate applications would be complete and she plans to have all decisions (instate) made by the end of the month :-(
 
bloop said:
Yup, you've got it right. In past years, the interviews at Iowa have been like 30-something questions read off by someone in a monotone voice while you reply to them into a sound recorder. I was expecting that at my interview just this November, but instead there were 2 professors I met with who traded off in asking some structured questions at first (which they can't respond to or give you any indications about their opinion on your answer), and then we had a more open-ended conversation.

I got rejected for this upcoming class 🙁, but then again, I'm out-of-state. Good luck with your upcoming interview. The interview is closed file, so try to let them know as much about you as possible and don't let your nerves get the best of you! :xf:
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Thanks for the response it was very helpful. I am trying to prepare myself, so hopefully it will go well.
Good luck to you too, I hope you get in to one of the schools you applied to this cycle.
 
congrats to everyone that got in. someone should make a facebook group! Also about the interview for me it was 13 questions structered and around 10 unstructured. total of 20 minutes with 2 people asking questions.
 
my interview was the same, about 12 structured, didn't count how many unstructured though. With mine though, it was essentially the same as past years. The interviews neither asked follow ups or commented on the unstructured questions. It was different, however, than the past years in that (from what I hear, this was my first application cycle) the interviewers nodded, smiled, etc. rather than acting like a brick wall. It was tape recorded, lasted about 20 min, and not very stressful (as far as an interview goes). Good luck to those with the last application date 👍

If anyone has any questions, by all means post up or PM me and I'll answer the best I can.
 
predent99 said:
congrats to everyone that got in. someone should make a facebook group! Also about the interview for me it was 13 questions structered and around 10 unstructured. total of 20 minutes with 2 people asking questions.
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I 2nd the idea of a facebook group, I would like to get to know my future classmates! Congrats to all, and good luck to those still waiting!😀
 
What are the differences between the "structured" questions and the "unstructured" questions?
Are there any really weird questions like those in the past (e.g., what is your purpose in life?)?
Any insight into the questions and/or suggestions for how one should prepare is greatly appreciated.
 
DDSwanaB said:
What are the differences between the "structured" questions and the "unstructured" questions?
Are there any really weird questions like those in the past (e.g., what is your purpose in life?)?
Any insight into the questions and/or suggestions for how one should prepare is greatly appreciated.
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Structured questions most likely refers to questions they have prepared for you while unstructured questions will be questions they ask based on your response to the structured questions. Expect similar questions to most other interview processes and you should be just fine. It's definitely a more relaxed interview than has been described in the past.
 
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I don't know if my interview was slightly different or anything so take my words with a grain of salt. My unstructured and structured were pretty much all the same. I found the past few years' interview questions online somewhere (I think it was on Facebook through a SDN page) and both unstructured and structured questions pretty much came off of those, or were very close. I didn't get any ridiculous questions, some curve balls but nothing terrible. None of the answers I gave were ever followed up with other "unstructured" questions. Essentially it went like this:

We have 20 minutes, we'll ask you some "structured questions" and some "unstructured" questions after. We cannot answer question about the questions or elaborate on them, we can just repeat them.
-- about 12 "structured" questions asked/answered
Okay, we will now move on to the unstructured questions
-- probably about 4-5 questions, none of which I was asked to elaborate on my answers or asked questions relating to the last question I answered.

Again, maybe my answers were satisfactory or sucked so bad they didn't want me to elaborate, so take my example with caution. Overall I was fairly happy with my interview, it takes some stress away knowing that it's not actually the people sitting there making the admissions decisions, but at the same time you are at a disadvantage since you can't "read" the person making the admissions decisions as you could with a one-on-one interview.

Also, I would say don't over prepare. Due to circumstances I had less than a week to prepare for my interview, and I actually think this helped me a lot. I knew what I wanted to stress about myself going in, and had some general (not detailed) answers prepared for questions I thought I might get. Figure out what is important for you to stress that may not have come out strong/clearly in other parts of your app and make sure you hit those points by either answering direct questions, or working the answer into another question that is somewhat related. Remember, you have no idea what questions you will be asked, so you may have to answer in a way that gets your point across even if you have to twist the interpretation of the question a little. But, being that they cannot clarify questions this works to your advantage as you can twist what is "meant" by the question.

I hope this helps, I got on a little bit of a typing spree there :laugh:
Good luck!
 
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Thank you for the responses. I was assuming the interviewers were on the admissions committee; can anyone clarify? Is their only involvement in the admissions process to rate us on our interview performance?
 
DDSwanaB said:
Thank you for the responses. I was assuming the interviewers were on the admissions committee; can anyone clarify? Is their only involvement in the admissions process to rate us on our interview performance?
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My interviewers informed me that only one of them was on the admissions committee. But I'm sure it's different for each case.
 
Anyone hear back this week? There is/was supposed to be an admissions committee this week and one more following the interview day Friday.
 
So I called Elaine today and got the best news of my life, I was admitted. She said that those admitted in the meeting would see it on ISIS tomorrow. I have been applying for three years and had almost given up hope but take it from me that if you work hard enough and want it bad enough good things will happen for you! Good luck to all those still waiting and I can't wait to meet the rest of you who have been admitted!!! FINALLYYY!!!!!!!!
 
civy87 said:
So I called Elaine today and got the best news of my life, I was admitted. She said that those admitted in the meeting would see it on ISIS tomorrow. I have been applying for three years and had almost given up hope but take it from me that if you work hard enough and want it bad enough good things will happen for you! Good luck to all those still waiting and I can't wait to meet the rest of you who have been admitted!!! FINALLYYY!!!!!!!!
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CONGRATS!!! Looks like your hard work and endurance paid off! Way to not give up 🙂 I really hope to have a nice little update tomorrow on ISIS
 
Not at all I have a 3.4 sGPA and 3.5 oGPA 19AA 18TS 19 PA. I went to a small private school so my professors knew how bad I wanted this and I'm friends with my dentist so my LORs are strong. Also I had a lot of ECs in college and shadowing/volunteering. Lastly I moved to Iowa City to do research in the surgical department for the University after graduating. Sorry this is more than you asked for but I know that sometimes it's hard to decipher the reason for a acceptance/rejection based solely off DAT and GPA.
 
Congratulations. Every time I call I feel as if I get the cold shoulder and she can't get off the phone fast enough. That doesn't give me much hope...
 
I just accepted U of I for School of Dentistry this morning, Excited! I am from in state, Okoboji. How about anyone else ?
 
reallycreighton said:
I just accepted U of I for School of Dentistry this morning, Excited! I am from in state, Okoboji. How about anyone else ?
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Hey Congrats on your decision! I am STILL waiting to hear back 🙁...and I am your neighbor from Estherville
 
reallycreighton said:
I just accepted U of I for School of Dentistry this morning, Excited! I am from in state, Okoboji. How about anyone else ?
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I'm in state also, from Iowa City. I accepted in late December. Best of luck to you, oledds!!
 
In state also, from West Des Moines but currently doing my undergrad at Iowa. As mentioned before I was accepted earlier this month, can't wait to meet you all! hang in there Oledds!

As far as hearing from the school, I had emailed Elaine in the morning about completely unrelated info and was sent back an email saying I had been admitted. Otherwise ISIS was first, then AADSAS then a letter came in the mail.
 
Congrats to everyone! I always get so excited when someone says they got accepted so I check my ISIS and get the "in progress" status. So annoying! Guess it is better than seeing rejection. Trying to be patient but really want to plan if I am going to get in somewhere....waiting on Iowa and 3 other schools!
 
Reallycreighton, I am pretty sure I had the same interview date as you, and sat at the same table for lunch haha good to see some others from the same group got in!
 
Any news? I have been checking isis daily and its still "in progress"
 
I have heard nothing and still show "in progress" as well
 
are there supposed to be decisions made today? wasn't sure what the updated in progress reports were about. I'm still in progress too...guess that is better than not accepted right?
 
adcoms were supposed to meet today. My ISIS still reads "in progress." I wonder when the meeting will get over? has anyone tried calling or emailing? Please report anything you find out.
 
Well if it happened that they met today, isis should be updated by Monday hopefully. And the waiting continues.......
 
I would guess Monday as well. It always seems to be the next business day after the meeting, never that day. At least that is what mine was (meeting thurs, posted fri) and a few others I have talked to people about.
 
I called Elaine just few minutes ago but I was told she is in a meeting and won't be out till 1:30. So I am gonna call after that.
 
Moonie87 said:
I called Elaine just few minutes ago but I was told she is in a meeting and won't be out till 1:30. So I am gonna call after that.
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Well be sure to us know what you find out! I'll cross my fingers for you
 
oledds said:
Well be sure to us know what you find out! I'll cross my fingers for you
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they had one meeting today, however, they didn't get through all records. The next meeting is on the 4th for now.
 
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