"Gaming" UC applications

[Averagemanboy]

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I know this might be considered wrong to discuss, but is there anything in particular that you have heard or learned from experience that would help your cause in a UC application? Like do certain UC's prefer people who want to do a certain specialty or other things like that.

Can be all UC's or just specific ones.

 

[gyngyn]

I know this might be considered wrong to discuss, but is there anything in particular that you have heard or learned from experience that would help your cause in a UC application? Like do certain UC's prefer people who want to do a certain specialty or other things like that.

Can be all UC's or just specific ones.

If you have a validated commitment to serve in the IE, apply to UCR.
If you have a validated commitment to serve in the San Joaquin Valley, apply to Davis.
If you have a validated commitment to serve the urban poor, apply to Drew.

The key here is evidence of commitment.

 

[piii]

1. Be attractive
2. Don't be unattractive

 

[osckey]

1. Be attractive
2. Don't be unattractive

Plenty of unattractive students at UC Irvine when I met them

 

[sharkbyte]

The UC's are so competitive and so difficult to get into that even tailoring your application to any one of those schools does not mean you'll have a great chance of getting accepted, or even getting an interview. I know some people with solid stats and great activities that they were passionate about who didn't even receive SECONDARIES at some UC schools. Including the schools they attended for undergrad 😱😱😱

 

[Lost in Translation]

Plenty of unattractive students at UC Irvine when I met them

Savage.

 

[osckey]

You could try being more Asian.

 

[musicalfeet]

The UC's are so competitive and so difficult to get into that even tailoring your application to any one of those schools does not mean you'll have a great chance of getting accepted, or even getting an interview. I know some people with solid stats and great activities that they were passionate about who didn't even receive SECONDARIES at some UC schools. Including the schools they attended for undergrad 😱😱😱

To add a personal anecdote to that:

I am, still to this day, a bit weird/perplexed as to why I didn't end up with an II from UCR, since according to all my activities and my entire application, I had definitely established my commitment to the underserved specifically in the IE, as well as stats above their median. The reality is that you just never know. I do think there's much more luck required for the UCs than most of the other medical schools.

 

[Spinach Dip]

The fact that anyone thinks there is a way to "game" the system is indicative of how much of a problem there is.

 

[hopefulERdoc251]

- I just love this emoticon

 

[p0gono]

It is so unpredictable. From interviews at UCs, I got the sense that many if not all of them have a social justice bent. Demonstrating cultural competence with respect to marginalized groups would be a good thing, but I don't think there is a way to fake that (at least not well enough to be believed by interviewers).

 

[Psai]

Plenty of unattractive students at UC Irvine when I met them

You could try being more Asian.

lol did they not like your app or something

 

[Goro]

Absolutely. Get a 3.9 GPA for UCSF, UCSD, or UCLA

I know this might be considered wrong to discuss, but is there anything in particular that you have heard or learned from experience that would help your cause in a UC application? Like do certain UC's prefer people who want to do a certain specialty or other things like that.

Can be all UC's or just specific ones.

 

[NotWayneBrady]

Absolutely. Get a 3.9 GPA for UCSF, UCSD, or UCLA

Goro stop, the wound is too fresh.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

Absolutely. Get a 3.9 GPA for UCSF, UCSD, or UCLA

Those schools actually have pretty broad gpa and mcat ranges. I'm not discounting the importance of stats, but the UCs seem to care less about numbers than other similarly ranked schools.

 

[osckey]

lol did they not like your app or something

Lol, I never applied there. I'm just spouting comical stuff at this point.

 

[musicalfeet]

Those schools actually have pretty broad gpa and mcat ranges. I'm not discounting the importance of stats, but the UCs seem to care less about numbers than other similarly ranked schools.

While the schools may have really broad ranges, it seems like the only way to make sure you get at least ONE UC interview would be to have really high stats. I also feel like SF, SD and LA are also the more "predictable" ones in terms of dealing with high stat-ers in comparison to the middle UCs (which almost seems random...?).

 

[MemeFactory]

You could try being more Asian.

Not a good idea if you want to get in anywhere else in the country.

 

[NotWayneBrady]

While the schools may have really broad ranges, it seems like the only way to make sure you get at least ONE UC interview would be to have really high stats. I also feel like SF, SD and LA are also the more "predictable" ones in terms of dealing with high stat-ers in comparison to the middle UCs (which almost seems random...?).

Mid UCs (UCI, UCR, UCD) are highly mission-driven.

 

[NotWayneBrady]

Goro stop, the wound is too fresh.

For context, 3.89 GPA -> pretty early rejections from all but one UC.

 

[EleanorAbernathyMD]

For context, 3.89 GPA -> pretty early rejections from all but one UC.

For even more context, I had a 3.4 and interviewed at UCLA and UCD. Didn't bother applying to UCR or UCI because they didn't align with who I am. I think a lot falls on who reviews your application, how you have spent your time leading up to medical school, and what level of maturity you display. My interviews at both UCs were predominantly older students with more life experience.


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[p0gono]

For even more context, I had a 3.4 and interviewed at UCLA and UCD. Didn't bother applying to UCR or UCI because they didn't align with who I am. I think a lot falls on who reviews your application, how you have spent your time leading up to medical school, and what level of maturity you display. My interviews at both UCs were predominantly older students with more life experience.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

I'm curious what the distinct mission is at UCI, as you perceive it? I have a good sense for the rest of the UCs. I know they are really into ultrasound and have a more commuter vibe, but what makes you say UCI didn't align with who you were?

 

[NotWayneBrady]

I'm curious what the distinct mission is at UCI, as you perceive it? I have a good sense for the rest of the UCs. I know they are really into ultrasound and have a more commuter vibe, but what makes you say UCI didn't align with who you were?

(Take everything I say with a grain of salt, I'm no expert)

I don't think they're as explicitly mission driven as UCD or UCR, but they are definitely interested in creating physicians that plan to give back to the OC. For people like myself, this is a pretty unappealing mission as I am not a big fan of Orange County. It's always seemed like LA's weird, conservative cousin to me.

 

[gyngyn]

(Take everything I say with a grain of salt, I'm no expert)

I don't think they're as explicitly mission driven as UCD or UCR, but they are definitely interested in creating physicians that plan to give back to the OC. For people like myself, this is a pretty unappealing mission as I am not a big fan of Orange County. It's always seemed like LA's weird, conservative cousin to me.

I don't really think UCI fits the description of mission-based.
For me, mission has to rise above other factors in order to achieve that descriptor.

 

[NotWayneBrady]

I don't really think UCI fits the description of mission-based.
For me, mission has to rise above other factors in order to achieve that descriptor.

Fair point, I suppose UCI doesn't really fit in that category then.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

I wonder what happened to @Psai.

His absence will definitely impact the sdn equilibrium.

 

[EleanorAbernathyMD]

I'm curious what the distinct mission is at UCI, as you perceive it? I have a good sense for the rest of the UCs. I know they are really into ultrasound and have a more commuter vibe, but what makes you say UCI didn't align with who you were?

Like others have said, it's geared towards the OC and within that primarily primary care physicians. They don't have the same level of tertiary care opportunities as other schools I was interested in. Of course, this is just my opinion.


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[Me.D.]

You don't game UC's - they game you. Exhibit A: I had 10 II's but no secondaries from both UCLA and UCD :'(

 

[NotWayneBrady]

You don't game UC's - they game you. Exhibit A: I had 10 II's but no secondaries from both UCLA and UCD :'(

Someone needs to start a UC self-pity thread. I swear it's 90% of the reason I come on SDN these days. 🙁