Attn: Stanford applicants

[kk]

For those familiar with the Stanford application process, how long does it take the admissions committee to review an applicant's file once it is complete?

Mine was completed about 2 weeks ago. I am getting a bit worried because I have not been able to contact one of the people whom I listed down for verifying my participation in an activity. It has been a while since I last spoke to the person and I am afraid that she might forget who I am and thus be unable to answer any questions the admissions committee might have.

I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks!

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[mschlesi]

My application has been finalized since September and I have not heard a word from them yet...
I would not be too worried about them checking up on you like that unless it is a letter of recomendation.

 

[lilycat]

It took them almost 3 months to get back to me.

 

[caffeinegirl]

My app was complete in late September. I called a couple of weeks ago, and they haven't even looked at it yet. They said they would only get to it next YEAR because all the students are leaving after finals. He said that I should call back in TWO MONTHS to see if they've even looked at it yet. That would mean that it takes them 5 MONTHS to look at my application!?!? I was disappointed to say the least, especially since it's rolling admissions.

 

[mophead]

My application was complete on September 25th (but had been transmitted electronically in August). I got a rejection letter from them a couple of weeks ago. Oh well...

 

[jimi]

I submitted everything by September 8th. They verified that my application was complete on September 21st. Then they invited me for an interview on Nov. 13. I had my interview on Nov. 29th.

Everyone on my interview day was incredibly qualified so I don't know about my chances. But they said after the interview they usually get back to us within 3-6 weeks.

I think they are probably slower now because the app.s are starting to pile up. Who knows.

Good luck with everything!

 

[Crafty]

My Stanford application was listed as complete in mid-October, and I haven't heard anything since. I was getting anxious about it at first, but I've decided to stop worrying about it. At least it's good to know that many of us are in the same boat. Best of luck.

 

[Oceandust]

kk,

In a very similar pos't as you.
But as all these posts testify, it looks like misery loves company.
So hows about a little less misery....


[This message has been edited by Oceandust (edited 12-15-2000).]

 

[Mustafa]

is any of the following really true?
_______________

In no particular order. 1. Lane Library is not up to par, lacks air conditioning, no bathrooms and the hours suck. 2. Although Stanford prides themselves on flexibility (i.e. 5 year plan etc...), they're really inflexible in the sense that they push you to graduate in 5 years (so in a sense the 4 year plan is not even an option!). 3. Stanford is located in a suburb so you miss out on a lot. For ex. just to get a bite to eat, you can either waste 30 minutes trying to find parking on University Ave. or drive and eat somewhere on El Camino. 4. The class size, although is small (86), doesn't equate to unity. It just means that the chances of students that you will click with are lowered. I noticed this in the lecture halls as there were already numerous "cliques". 5. Stanford is very insecure of themselves as during the interview, they would specifically give out reasons as to why they were "better" than UCSF. 6. The lecture halls at Stanford are very crowded and old (check out M104, where all the anatomy lectures are held, when you go on an interview). 7. They claim that they give a lot of grant money, but only if your parents pay too. (i.e. your parents pay $5000, then they pay $5000). 8. Their histology labs (Fleischman) are not up to par either. 9. Their computing facilities (FLCR) are cramped and inadequate for the 500+ med. students at Stanford. 10. Judgemental students. (i.e. you can't just go to med. school for a good education). If that's your plan, you will be an outcast here. Want more?

 

[kimberlicox]

Originally posted by Mustafa:
is any of the following really true?

In no particular order. 1. Lane Library is not up to par, lacks air conditioning, no bathrooms and the hours suck.

Yep. The students have been complaining for years and recently grabbed some national attention when the school was warned it would lose its accreditation if it didn't spiff up the classrooms, labs, etc. OTOH, to be fair, a LOT of stuff in the Bay Area isn't A/C'd 'cause you don't often need it. But it would be nice to have it when you need it (and believe me, nearly every year there is a "heat wave" and No Cal freaks when it hits 90F).

3. Stanford is located in a suburb so you miss out on a lot. For ex. just to get a bite to eat, you can either waste 30 minutes trying to find parking on University Ave. or drive and eat somewhere on El Camino.

Yep and it ain't the nicest suburb of California either! But you can eat on campus, bring some chow or do the above. Its not so different from other places (ok, there is heaps of food within walking distance of UCLA, for example, but just try and get a parking spot on Gayley!).

6. The lecture halls at Stanford are very crowded and old (check out M104, where all the anatomy lectures are held, when you go on an interview).

Yep. While I haven't specifically been in M104, I can't imagine it holding a candle to UCSF's penthouse anatomy lab!

9. Their computing facilities (FLCR) are cramped and inadequate for the 500+ med. students at Stanford.

Seems to be, but then again, what's new? Happens at a lot of places.

Under the guise of full disclosure, I am a former UCSF employee but have friends who are former Stanford employees who have either validated the above or I've seen it for myself. EVERY school has problems and perhaps Stanford has rested on its laurels for too long and I do understand that at least changes in the physical plant are afoot. As for the social issues (cliques, snobby students) I can't comment except to say that I've met those elsewhere too.

Thank you for posting your concerns, as I'm sure students applying there will be interested.

 

[lilycat]

Mustafa -- most of the statements you posted are true, although I don't know about the grant money part. However, the med school (including Lane Library) is scheduled to begin a massive renovation and facelift starting this year, and should be completed around 2004. And Kimberlicox was correct about the a/c part -- very few buildings in Northern California have a/c, and very few buildings on the Stanford campus have it, period. It never has posed too much of a problem. About the "cliquey-ness" of the Stanford class -- I don't think that is restricted only to Stanford -- it seems to hold true at a lot of med schools -- I think if you look around these message boards, you'll find some old threads that compare the atmosphere at med school to that of high school. Hope this helps.

 

[jimi]

Well, exactly three weeks after my interview at Stanford I just got a letter telling me I've been put in the "hold" category. I quote: "A final decision may not be reached for many weeks."

I sort of don't mind about the school itself. What pains me is the amount of time I put into their notorious application...sheesh...

Well, I hope the rest of you out there have better luck than I did. The strange thing was that both of my interviews went very well. Which leads me to yet another theory:
(I'm full of theories these days)

The interview is really not quite as important as they make it out to be.

Judging from my experiences at the schools I have been accepted to and my stanford experience this theory seems to be true so far. But what's the point of analyzing anyway...

At least they let me know pretty quickly. I gotta give them that much credit.

 

[Mustafa]

What is the process in scheduling the Stanford interview? is it online, or do they assign you a date, do you get to select available dates...do you know where they are at right now (mid-Feb I heard for scheduling interviews)? are we interviewing for the waitlist at this point (ie an interview in mid-late Feb)?

 

[jimi]

If I remember correctly I believe they have an online calendar with all the available dates that invited applicants can access. I think CA residents can only choose tue, wed. or thur. but if you sign up for more than one day (to reserve a spot you are not sure about) I think they just drop all of your dates.

Anyway, I just remember it being very convenient.

 

[Hallie]

I loved Stanford during my interview and found out recently that I'm on the waitlist. I have a bad feeling that few - if any - students are admitted off the waitlist. Have any of you heard anything?

Thanks!

 

[jimi]

I doubt you'll hear anything before May 15th. But don't give up hope!

I personally think Stanford is incredibly selective (even more than some other top ten schools). So chances are the students who get into Stanford will get into the other top ten as well. Chances are they'll pick Harvard over Stanford which means more open spaces for waitlist people.

 

[Hallie]

Thanks for the optimistic perspective, Jimi! I guess I just have to wait a few more months - you gotta love this waiting game....

 

[Mustafa]

To anyone familiar with the Stanford application process:

How decent is a chance of acceptance after an interview?

Is everyone interviewed there (if the number is indeed small) at worst waitlisted?

 

[gower]

Stanford:

1997-98

Applicants 6,391
Interviewed 523
New Entrants 86

Acceptance notice to regular applicants
Earliest date: October 15
Latest date: Until class is filled

Secondaries: About 50% of regular applicants
are asked to submit supplementary material.

About 8% of those submitting secondaries are called for interview.

Of those interviewed, about 30% are accepted on a rolling basis, 45% are rejected, first rejection notices mailed mid-September.

25% placed on wait-list after number of acceptances estimated to be adequate to fill
class has been offered. To remain on wait-list, candidate must respond to any inquiries from Stanford. Wait-list is rank ordered.

Students with multiple acceptances receive a phone call followed by a letter after May 15 advising them to withdraw from other schools if they want to attend Stanford. Likelihood of acceptance from wait list is sent early June.

 

[Mustafa]

Thanx, gower

Where do you get your stats?

[This message has been edited by Mustafa (edited 01-31-2001).]

 

[Mustafa]

I think I'll relay some not so great news about Stanford: there are 21 deferrals from previous years entering in the class of 2001--that's a quarter of the class! As if Stanford's class size weren't small enough, we're now competing for an effective class size of 65.

Also, after mid-March, even to the most promising candidates, they do not offer outright acceptances; rather just waitlist spots

Ah well, I'm not holding my breath.

 

[scully]

Mustafa,

Did you get this information from the admissions office? Also, do you know if this means they are offering fewer interviews this year?

 

[Hallie]

Holy cow! So there are only 65 slots (we think).... Plus, I've heard that Stanford accepts students early decision. So, say they accepted 5-10 students back in October, then they are down to 55-60 slots. Bummer! If any of you are waitlisted but wouldn't mind deferring a year, maybe you could let Stanford know that you would like to defer and then they could accept you under the condition that you won't go until fall 2002. I had a friend who did that for law school but I have no idea how it would go over with a med school. Good luck everyone!

 

[Mustafa]

I too am hoping that b/c Stanford has so many deferrals, they interviewed proportionally less...but they interview so few already (~500 for ~6,000 applicants) that it is doubtful, scully. Got the stats from the annual Admissions report (released Dec. 2000).

The best we can hope is that as many this year's acceptees defer, but who knows if Stanford will be as gracious in granting deferrals this year. I saw the stats for most of the other top schools (Harvard, Hopkins, WashU, Duke, Cornell etc.) and, as a proportion of the class or even gross number, the other top schools grant nowhere near as many deferrals.

Oh well, sucks for us, I guess, ***sigh***

[This message has been edited by Mustafa (edited 02-05-2001).]

 

[Mustafa]

LILYCAT,

In previous posts, you mentioned you work at Stanford, and went to undergrad there. You also seem to have a backstage view on the Stanford Admissions process (again, gleaned from a previous post).

At any rate, do you have any idea of how many students that have already been admitted, EDP and normal? What do you make of the deferral situation? Are they interviewing a smaller proportion?

As always, appreciate your insight.

Moose

 

[lilycat]

Hey Mustafa,

Wish I could help you out more on those questions, but unfortunately I don't have any of that information -- might be able to ask around though, since I know some people in the admissions office. My supervisor actually has been doing applicant interviews, which is how I have been getting most of my info. So, really I have more information on how they seem to be evaluating who gets interviewed/who doesn't, and thus the types of students they seem to be looking at. However, based on what I've seen/heard so far (I feel too uncomfortable to look at the apps. myself, but the secretary reads them all over and tells me about them) all I can honestly say is it seems to be a crapshoot, which I know is not necessarily comforting. If I do hear anything concrete, I'll let you know. Good luck.

 

[lilycat]

Thought I would resurrect this thread for any of you who are waiting on Stanford, choosing between Stanford and another school, or thinking of applying there in the future. There was an interesting interview in the Stanford magazine with the new Dean of the medical school (formerly Chair of Boston Children's). The interesting point of it is that he thinks there is a looming crisis with too few people specializing now. He thinks that Stanford and a few other schools should concentrate on training specialists and researchers.

http://www.stanfordalumni.org/jg/mig/news_magazine/magazine/marapr01/farmreport/news.html#medicine

 

[Oceandust]

Caffeinegirl and others,

I just noticed you interviewed here, and UCSF, where you got accepted. Did you hear back from Stanford? How would you compare the two? I haven't heard back from either, but I got distinct research slant at Stanford, but is it at the expense of solid clinical training...what do you/anyone else think? Is it the fact that Palo Alto just isn't a big city with a terribly varied patient population (relative to SF or New York, say) combined with that Stanford is a formidable research giant that they want to target the curriculum, etc. towards research?

 

[caffeinegirl]

Hey there Oceandust
I did get into UCSF, but I turned down the interview from Stanford....
The reason I didn't go was because I wasn't too comfortable with the fact that the majority of the class graduates in 5 years...I'm more of a 4 year type of gal

Plus, I'm interested in primary care, and Stanford is big on research and specialty...
and..I didn't want to spend the extra bucks to fly across the country again.
guess it all works out in the end

Just to let you know, the UCSF students told me that the kids from Stanford use their library from time to time. Of course, there was a sort of rivalry between them. The UCSF students said that Stanford doesn't come close to UCSF....they're biased of course

[This message has been edited by caffeinegirl (edited March 22, 2001).]

 

[Mustafa]

Stanford Hospital & Clinics Floundering:

http://www.stanford.edu/dept/news/report/news/april4/bauerstatement-44.html

what might this mean for an already antiquated (facilities-wise) medical school in the most competitive and the most under-funded healthcare markets in America?

will the med school have to start diverting larger and larger amount of $ from the University to recoup its massive losses? say like UPenn?

it's also ironic that Stanford calls itself to be one of the vehement opponents of the US News &WR rankings, the president having written a letter to the editor of the rankings issues to cease publishing its bestselling magazine ( http://www.stanford.edu/dept/pres-provost/president/speeches/961206gcfallow.html ). and now, when the hospital ain't doin so well, they're quick to cite the US News Rankings (in the first link above) as having a top ten medical school and hospital!


[This message has been edited by Mustafa (edited April 01, 2001).]