Florida Schools Application Thread (2008) part 2

[thegold91]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Where were you on the waitlist? That's odd. usually if you are on the waitlist they leave you on there. Were you put on the waitlist originally or rejected outright without a waitlist in between? Because usually waitlist means that no matter how high or low they keep you on there til the class is filled.

Well after my interview last year when they called to tell me if I was waitlisted or rejected they told me that since it was so early they did not know where I was on the wait list. From the tone of Dr. Kohler's voice i felt that I was not very high on the list. I was fortunate enough to find out what exactly happened with my application during the committee meeting. The interviewers felt that i was very cold and insincere during my interview and provided me with some other feedback. Getting this feedback and waitlist was the best thing that could have happend to me, it taught me what I needed to do differently in my other interviews. The main problem at USF was that i had memorized my answers to every single one of the questions they could ask before the interview, so it made me come off as very "cold." It turns out that just winging the interview worked best for me since it allowed my true self to come out. Miami was my first choice so no worries here 🙂

 

[hermit]

Miami was my first choice so no worries here 🙂

I love hypotheticals. If you could choose, would you pick getting into USF last year or having to wait a year to get into UM?

 

[thegold91]

I love hypotheticals. If you could choose, would you pick getting into USF last year or having to wait a year to get into UM?

Sorry the way i wrote the last post may be a bit misleading. When i said last year i meant fall of 2007 (this application cycle).

 

[medguy83]

Wow, I guess the interview is actually a critical component after all. I always knew it was important, but I figured if you didn't bomb it and say something stupid you'd be okay. Kind of crazy that after 4 years of working your butt off in undergrad, taking the mcat, EC's up the wazoo, that in the end 30 or so minutes can make or break you.

 

[Jennifer5109]

Wow, I guess the interview is actually a critical component after all. I always knew it was important, but I figured if you didn't bomb it and say something stupid you'd be okay. Kind of crazy that after 4 years of working your butt off in undergrad, taking the mcat, EC's up the wazoo, that in the end 30 or so minutes can make or break you.

I think the importance of the interview varies from school to school, but when you have so many applicants that are equally good you have to find a way to differentiate.

 

[axlaxl1]

Well after my interview last year when they called to tell me if I was waitlisted or rejected they told me that since it was so early they did not know where I was on the wait list. From the tone of Dr. Kohler's voice i felt that I was not very high on the list. I was fortunate enough to find out what exactly happened with my application during the committee meeting. The interviewers felt that i was very cold and insincere during my interview and provided me with some other feedback. Getting this feedback and waitlist was the best thing that could have happend to me, it taught me what I needed to do differently in my other interviews. The main problem at USF was that i had memorized my answers to every single one of the questions they could ask before the interview, so it made me come off as very "cold." It turns out that just winging the interview worked best for me since it allowed my true self to come out. Miami was my first choice so no worries here 🙂

My vote comes tomorrow. Wish me luck. My B-day is Saturday so it would be AWESOME to get a B-day present for me! YESSSS.

have you decided on what campus?

 

[thoffen]

My vote comes tomorrow. Wish me luck. My B-day is Saturday so it would be AWESOME to get a B-day present for me! YESSSS.

have you decided on what campus?

Mine too...another SDNer at the 1/14 interviews? 😀 Wouldn't be a b-day present for me, but it would be one for my fiancee who I think wants me to get in more than me (if that's possible).

 

[Jennifer5109]

Wow, you had to wait for two weeks for the decision from USF? Did the committee not meet last week? I had so much trouble just waiting 9 days! Good luck to you both.

 

[DiverDoc86]

Did you specify a UM campus in the app? I wanted the main campus and I'm wondering if that has anything to do with why I haven' t heard anything... I was complete back in november and I think my stats are above average for the school.

 

[axlaxl1]

Actually my inteview at UM was Jan 10th. UF, only took a week but in my case it was the hour it took for me to get through the interview I had to know I would be on hold.

I really want UM. S, I would be so excited tomorrow or the next day to get a call.

 

[thoffen]

Wow, you had to wait for two weeks for the decision from USF? Did the committee not meet last week? I had so much trouble just waiting 9 days! Good luck to you both.

No they didn't. MLK day was last monday so they didn't do interviews/committee meeting.

 

[ankit999]

They told me that I'm on the higher end of the waitlist. I saw some posts from last year and I noticed that they already started calling some people before May 15th 🙂 Hopefully that will be the case this year (even though I have a feeling they're going to make us wait)

Wow, that's awesome. Yah i was told that i was pretty high on the waitlist. Here's to hoping for some early good news for us! When does USF stop interviewing? Does anybody know?

 

[Jennifer5109]

I think USF stops interviewing in April.

 

[gujuDoc]

I think USF stops interviewing in April.

Yeah since they started the IMS program 2 or 3 years ago they started interviewing til April. But before that it used to end in march.

Although I think the IMS students might interview separately of the main interviewees. That's how they did it last year where interviews for IMS people were on Tues. or Thurs.

 

[Jennifer5109]

Gujudoc, do IMS students get an automatic interview? Also, as an IMS student do you get to exempt some of the first-year courses? That would certainly be nice.

 

[gujuDoc]

Gujudoc, do IMS students get an automatic interview? Also, as an IMS student do you get to exempt some of the first-year courses? That would certainly be nice.

No sadly you have to repeat the courses again regardless of how you do in them. Only some SMP programs allow you to skip retaking them. I know Gtown lets you do that for some but not all courses that you took and so do a few others like BU and what not but many including USF do not exempt you from those courses.

The other thing is that you don't get an automatic interview per say but most people who do the program and do well will interview and last year those interviews were in April separate of the normal interviewees. The other thing I've seen is this past year there have been some people doing tours of the med school on a Tues. or Thurs. I don't know if those are IMS applicants or if perhaps those are people who are coming for a second look or for an interview or what not. But who knows. maybe Mike or someone with an insiders perspective can comment.

 

[Jennifer5109]

That's too bad they don't let you exempt courses, but you will have a leg up on the course work. I bet that makes year one a lot less stressful.

 

[SoFlaKnight]

My vote comes tomorrow. Wish me luck. My B-day is Saturday so it would be AWESOME to get a B-day present for me! YESSSS.

have you decided on what campus?

Here's to an especially awesome Birthday present for you, which I'm positive you'll get! Any word from Pitt BTW?

 

[axlaxl1]

Here's to an especially awesome Birthday present for you, which I'm positive you'll get! Any word from Pitt BTW?

Cheers to that. I have the funniest story in the world to tell you on facebook.

Oh and me and Pitt are about to duke. Two months and counting and I got an e-mail today and it said I have returned mail. WThello? I got the brochure ok.

 

[thegold91]

Cheers to that. I have the funniest story in the world to tell you on facebook.

Oh and me and Pitt are about to duke. Two months and counting and I got an e-mail today and it said I have returned mail. WThello? I got the brochure ok.

Good luck! Hopefully today will be a great day for you!

 

[thoffen]

Just got the call from USF. Waitlist. I asked about position and was told that she didn't have the waitlist there, but my score puts me somewhere in the middle. I am thinking this is not good. If I commit to Miami on May 15th having not heard from USF, does that end my chances there, or would I just be out the deposit? I'd hate to be mean to Miami that way, but going to USF would be so much better for my life.

 

[gujuDoc]

Good luck! Hopefully today will be a great day for you!

What he said above^^^

btw thegold91,

I never got back after you responded to my post. Sorry to hear your interview went like that at USF but at least you learned what to do and got in the school of your choice so it all works out in the end.

I'm sure you will be great at Miami.

Medguy83,

As per the importance of the interview, it won't necessarily boost you if you did well but it will break you if you come off as a way they see as weird, cold, or not fitting with their mission or personality of their school.

I think the toughest part of this process is there are way more subjective components to it then there are of objective components to it.

For some people those subjective things can boost them but for others it can seriously hurt their app.

I will tell you what Dr. Nazien said last year when I was at the IMS info session. He said that the interview is a big deal because a person can look good on paper but come off as creepy or weird and last year there was an interviewee who said came off that way. By last year I mean the previous cycle.

So an interview is definitely important. If you look at the preallo worst interview or bizarre interview moments you will only see just how it made or broke many people.

But again the person who responded previously was somewhat correct. The extent to which it affects you is variable from school to school just as its format is.

P.S. I hope you hear some good news this semester from different schools.

 

[krizmizz]

Got into FSU!🙂

Now I can breathe a little easier while I wait to hear from the UF and Tulane hold lists. Hopefully an interview from USF comes this week too! Does anyone know what day of the week they call? I have heard Wed. or Fri.

 

[Jennifer5109]

Just got the call from USF. Waitlist. I asked about position and was told that she didn't have the waitlist there, but my score puts me somewhere in the middle. I am thinking this is not good. If I commit to Miami on May 15th having not heard from USF, does that end my chances there, or would I just be out the deposit? I'd hate to be mean to Miami that way, but going to USF would be so much better for my life.

I am sorry to hear that you were waitlisted. As for being in the middle of the waitlist, its got to be better than the bottom! Plus, you may actually be in the high middle. I think they will usually tell you if historically students have been accepted from that waitlist spot. It seems like USF has a pretty mobile waitlist so I wouldn't be discouraged. I think you still have a great chance of getting in. And when May 15 rolls around I think some schools require a non-refundable deposit while others don't. I can't remember if Miami's was refundable. A lot of schools say the deposit is refundable until May 15, which stinks!

 

[gujuDoc]

Just got the call from USF. Waitlist. I asked about position and was told that she didn't have the waitlist there, but my score puts me somewhere in the middle. I am thinking this is not good. If I commit to Miami on May 15th having not heard from USF, does that end my chances there, or would I just be out the deposit? I'd hate to be mean to Miami that way, but going to USF would be so much better for my life.

I dont know about the issue of refunds. But what I know is that if you're accepted after you've held your spot at Miami, you then have 1-2 weeks decide again between those two schools. Do try to apply for scholarship sat Miami because if you get he partial scholarship your tuition will be virtually equal to that of USF.

People on the top half of mid tier usually get in. About 60 people are taken off the waitlist traditionally speaking because many of those who got accepted by top tier IVY league schools or by other in state schools like Miami and UF often go there esp. if they get better scholarships or aid or are interested in research.

 

[adit15]

I dont know about the issue of refunds. But what I know is that if you're accepted after you've held your spot at Miami, you then have 1-2 weeks decide again between those two schools. Do try to apply for scholarship sat Miami because if you get he partial scholarship your tuition will be virtually equal to that of USF.

People on the top half of mid tier usually get in. About 60 people are taken off the waitlist traditionally speaking because many of those who got accepted by top tier IVY league schools or by other in state schools like Miami and UF often go there esp. if they get better scholarships or aid or are interested in research.

i heard someone saying they told them something like 100 people get off the usf waiting list?

 

[medguy83]

The whole issue of wait lists really comes down to how many acceptances have been offered and the average percentage of those who opt elsewhere. It's kind of hard to gauge and most admissions dept.s will tell you the average matriculation rate based on your position on their list. USF generally takes a pretty substantial number of their students from the waitlist. I'm not sure about any specific number but I remember hearing in years past that around 65-70% of their incoming class comes from the waitlist, so if you are mid-tier or higher you've got a good chance.
I've also known some who have been low tier and ended up at USF; again, it all depends on how many of those with acceptances in their hands decide to go elsewhere. At this point all you can do is hope that a spot opens up. I'm in the same boat concerning FSU.

Does anyone know when FSU stops interviewing? I can't find it on their site. Since they're early start it sure would be nice to know. 😕

 

[adit15]

The whole issue of wait lists really comes down to how many acceptances have been offered and the average percentage of those who opt elsewhere. It's kind of hard to gauge and most admissions dept.s will tell you the average matriculation rate based on your position on their list. USF generally takes a pretty substantial number of their students from the waitlist. I'm not sure about any specific number but I remember hearing in years past that around 65-70% of their incoming class comes from the waitlist, so if you are mid-tier or higher you've got a good chance.
I've also known some who have been low tier and ended up at USF; again, it all depends on how many of those with acceptances in their hands decide to go elsewhere. At this point all you can do is hope that a spot opens up. I'm in the same boat concerning FSU.

Does anyone know when FSU stops interviewing? I can't find it on their site. Since they're early start it sure would be nice to know. 😕

i just got put on hold at fsu also, and from what they told me they treat all the waitlists as if they had the same score... then late march/april the commitee meets and decides on all the hold candidates. but i've heard they dont stop interviewing till april

 

[Jennifer5109]

The whole issue of wait lists really comes down to how many acceptances have been offered and the average percentage of those who opt elsewhere. It's kind of hard to gauge and most admissions dept.s will tell you the average matriculation rate based on your position on their list. USF generally takes a pretty substantial number of their students from the waitlist. I'm not sure about any specific number but I remember hearing in years past that around 65-70% of their incoming class comes from the waitlist, so if you are mid-tier or higher you've got a good chance.
I've also known some who have been low tier and ended up at USF; again, it all depends on how many of those with acceptances in their hands decide to go elsewhere. At this point all you can do is hope that a spot opens up. I'm in the same boat concerning FSU.

Does anyone know when FSU stops interviewing? I can't find it on their site. Since they're early start it sure would be nice to know. 😕

When I interviewed at FSU I believe they said April was when they stop interviewing. They basically accept applicants right up to the day classes begin and even after. By the way, I think you are right about USF. I've talked to about a dozen students currently at USF and many were accepted off of the waitlist. Being mid-tier I think you could still have a very good chance. USF only accepts 1/3 of the interviewees and probably many of those accepted applicants opt to go somewhere else. That leaves a significant amount of open seats.

 

[gujuDoc]

i heard someone saying they told them something like 100 people get off the usf waiting list?

It is more like 65-70 ppl not 100.

Those ae exact numbers given to me by Mr. Larkin when he was admissions director at USF COM.

And from what I gathered from him that was how it was roughly each year within that range but not quite as far as 100 out of 120.

However, that number could be correct if there were theoretically 30 people who got off the waitlist that declined that school. Don't know though.

 

[adit15]

yea im hoping that waitlist doesnt move down so much with all the new interviewees still coming up, considering there's still much of spring left.

 

[axlaxl1]

What's going on everyone? Any word from YOU EM today?

 

[SwampGator]

There's an inordinate amount of Hillary Clinton's face on the thread today.

 

[thegold91]

What's going on everyone? Any word from YOU EM today?

is the suspense killing you yet?

 

[REL]

It is more like 65-70 ppl not 100.

Those ae exact numbers given to me by Mr. Larkin when he was admissions director at USF COM.

And from what I gathered from him that was how it was roughly each year within that range but not quite as far as 100 out of 120.

However, that number could be correct if there were theoretically 30 people who got off the waitlist that declined that school. Don't know though.

A good rule is that all Florida schools will admit roughly half of their class from the wait list. This is pretty consistent from year to year since we all interview the same applicants for the most part. I know that I used to interview roughly 350. 120 were accepted, and the remainder put in varying places on the wait list, and a few rejected. In the end we often got into the 100-110 range of the wait list before we started class. ~60 were accepted, the others got an acceptance and WD from the list, several from programs that started early and were too jittery to wait it out --- most of them would have made it into USF had they waited. Tough call tho since you dont know if the admissions office really has a handle on it.

 

[adit15]

A good rule is that all Florida schools will admit roughly half of their class from the wait list. This is pretty consistent from year to year since we all interview the same applicants for the most part. I know that I used to interview roughly 350. 120 were accepted, and the remainder put in varying places on the wait list, and a few rejected. In the end we often got into the 100-110 range of the wait list before we started class. ~60 were accepted, the others got an acceptance and WD from the list, several from programs that started early and were too jittery to wait it out --- most of them would have made it into USF had they waited. Tough call tho since you dont know if the admissions office really has a handle on it.

Dr. Larkin, would you say that the waitlist positions change much for people if say they were placed on the waitlist in the fall and were waiting it out thru the spring? in other words, could you be high-tier and all of a sudden be bumped off?

 

[Jennifer5109]

Thanks for clarifying the waitlist. I have a question though. What happens to people that have the same committee score? Do they pick the ones who interviewed first? Is the date that you interviewed considered when the committees meet?

 

[medguy83]

Dr. Larkin, would you say that the waitlist positions change much for people if say they were placed on the waitlist in the fall and were waiting it out thru the spring? in other words, could you be high-tier and all of a sudden be bumped off?

I don't want to answer for Mr. Larkin, and he can obviously provide more info on the ins and outs of the waitlist procedures, but from my own experience and the accounts of others, the date of your waitlist decision has little to do with your future standing; i.e. if someone else comes along later in the cycle and manages to attain a higher score than you but not enough for an acceptance you'll probably get bumped back a bit. One girl, whom Guju can tell you about, got bumped from her high tier position at USF and opted for another school. Granted, if you retained your current position for a good while chances are you're spot on the list is pretty safe; at least I hope so being waitlisted myself.🙄

 

[Team Zissou]

Hey REL,

when exactly can schools see where else we have been accepted?

 

[justletmeinplz]

I've had my secondary in at FSU since early September and have yet to be interviewed. Anyone been granted an interview 5 mos. after submitting secondary?

 

[UFMed]

Facebook:
UF College of Medicine Class of 2012

To any current accepted applicants to the University of Florida COM, and those who will be accepted in the future: make sure to join the Facebook group for the class of 2012 & the thread in the allopathic forums. We need more than the current 13 people on there! Time to discuss the ins & outs and what-have-yous.

Good luck to all!!!

 

[REL]

Dr. Larkin, would you say that the waitlist positions change much for people if say they were placed on the waitlist in the fall and were waiting it out thru the spring? in other words, could you be high-tier and all of a sudden be bumped off?

Certainly there will be some changes, but you should stay in the same general area. For example, say the committee vote is 10-15 to for immediate admission and you scored a 9. For the rest of the interview season all 10+ are getting accepted, most likely there wont be enough 9.1-9.9's to push you too far out of the relative wait list range. The best way to find out is to call and see what they say regarding your possibilities.....see if they still say high. I'm not on the inside of their process any longer.

 

[REL]

Thanks for clarifying the waitlist. I have a question though. What happens to people that have the same committee score? Do they pick the ones who interviewed first? Is the date that you interviewed considered when the committees meet?

There is usually enough range in the scoring so that there arent too many ties. That would only be important when you are down to admitting the last candidate on the wait list just before classes begin. Some programs do make the decision based on who interviewed first, others review the tied apps and make the decision. There are probably several different ways to break the tie, but it only really matters at the very end. I dont recall a tie being the case in any of my past experiences -- doesnt happen often enough to worry about.

 

[REL]

Hey REL,

when exactly can schools see where else we have been accepted?

Schools can begin seeing where their accepted student have been accepted very soon, if not already (my memory is fuzzy on the exact date.) Then in mid-March they can also see where any student that applied to their program got accepted. In reality applicants worry about this more than med schools. I dont know of any schools that consider other acceptances when making their own decisions about admitting an applicant. They go through their committee and wait list process without thinking too much about what other programs are doing.

 

[krizmizz]

I've had my secondary in at FSU since early September and have yet to be interviewed. Anyone been granted an interview 5 mos. after submitting secondary?

Don't worry...I was complete at FSU in August. I got called in December for an interview, interviewed two weeks ago, and got accepted this past Tuesday.

Make sure to call them, send updates, etc. You can even send a letter of interest if you want.

 

[axlaxl1]

Schools can begin seeing where their accepted student have been accepted very soon, if not already (my memory is fuzzy on the exact date.) Then in mid-March they can also see where any student that applied to their program got accepted. In reality applicants worry about this more than med schools. I dont know of any schools that consider other acceptances when making their own decisions about admitting an applicant. They go through their committee and wait list process without thinking too much about what other programs are doing.

I have been accepted to University of Miami. I cried, I laughed, I am so excited. 👍😀 🙂 .

I wanted to know if my application sent in recently to USF, by the deadline, could I expect an interview or no.

 

[HurricaneBlood]

Don't worry...I was complete at FSU in August. I got called in December for an interview, interviewed two weeks ago, and got accepted this past Tuesday.

Make sure to call them, send updates, etc. You can even send a letter of interest if you want.

Just curious, do you recommend sending updates and letter of interest because it worked for you?

 

[gujuDoc]

A good rule is that all Florida schools will admit roughly half of their class from the wait list. This is pretty consistent from year to year since we all interview the same applicants for the most part. I know that I used to interview roughly 350. 120 were accepted, and the remainder put in varying places on the wait list, and a few rejected. In the end we often got into the 100-110 range of the wait list before we started class. ~60 were accepted, the others got an acceptance and WD from the list, several from programs that started early and were too jittery to wait it out --- most of them would have made it into USF had they waited. Tough call tho since you dont know if the admissions office really has a handle on it.

REL,

Thanks for the clarification and your responses to the posts down below this one that is quoted. Its been a big help.

I was wondering if there is any more news on when UCF is expected to get its final accreditation visit for primary accreditation so that it can set up its admissions website. I'm asking because I remember you saying something about Feb. and it is now Feb. Is it still in the works for this month?

 

[medguy83]

It's actually February is it just me or is it getting progressively hopeless concerning invites from USF or Miami? When the heck is FSU going to make up their minds?? UGH. I've never heard of a waitlist system where you aren't at least ranked or given some sort of number so as to gauge whether or not you should get your hopes up.
Would an early interview (September) translate into an earlier notification after hold status?

I need to bury my frustrations in football and bratwursts.

 

[Dendrite]

It's actually February is it just me or is it getting progressively hopeless concerning invites from USF or Miami? When the heck is FSU going to make up their minds?? UGH. I've never heard of a waitlist system where you aren't at least ranked or given some sort of number so as to gauge whether or not you should get your hopes up.
Would an early interview (September) translate into an earlier notification after hold status?

I need to bury my frustrations in football and bratwursts.

I think USF is tremendously swamped right about now. I had sent in an updated transcript earlier in January (approximately the first week), and I just got an e-mail this mid-week notifying me of how it was received and placed in my file. I had called them in mid-January to ask if they received that updated transcript, and they said they had, but I guess it just wasn't added to my file until now.