I have an Interview in Iowa Jan 23rd

[prettyperky]

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Hi All,
Has anyone had an interview an Iowa? What was it like? I have one this coming January 23, 2008. Iowa Carver College of Medicine seems to strongly promote diversity on their web site. I wanted to know, do they practice what they preach? Do they offer in state residence tuition to out of state minority applicants? They used to offer this a years ago. Are underrepresented minorities truly welcomed or merely tolerated? Does any one have information on this school from the Med-Mar book from AAMC? If so please share your information.

Thank you,
prettyperky

 

[Kandy2012]

I was accepted into Iowa this year! I can honestly say they practice what they preach and you will be blown away by the school! There is a structured an unstructured interview. Both are very laid back overall especially the unstructured part. No stress! Truly be yourself and it will be a great experience. I am an OOS student and the offered me a scholarship to defer costs so there is hope! URM are welcomed and you will be able to see that on your visit. I talked to a few and they love the school. If you have any more questions private message me. Good Luck!

 

[prettyperky]

Hi Candy,

Thank you very much for your reply! It is truly encouraging! I will probably send a private message when in the next few days as I think questions to ask. I am very happy for your acceptance! I am hoping and praying to be in your class if I am accepted there. If you have multiple acceptances and choose another school, I wish you all the best! I'm sure you'll be happy in which ever medical school you matriculate in. You'll here from me again in PM😉
prettyperky

 

[gotfaith]

I am actually from Iowa, and I just had an interview about two weeks ago. I think that anyone who actually comes for the interview will be very impressed. The school is amazing, and student support services are probably among the best you will find. I know that one thing Iowa is good for with the minorities is money...I'm not sure if they give in-state tuition to out-of-staters, but in general, they are very helpful when it comes to financing your education. I'm not sure how many minorities there actually are, and quite honestly I feel that there are probably a good deal of minorities that are missing out because they hear Iowa and think that there aren't enough of 'their people' there, when quite honestly, being from Iowa and going to school in the south, I see that although there may not be as strong a minority presence, the community is much more close-knit. If you are really wanting to talk to some people, go ahead and email the diversity coordinator (Barbara Barlow, [email protected]) she's REALLY nice...but just ask her if she has a few SNMA members who would be willing to talk to you, or if you could have their contact information. I was able to call ahead and talk to some people...and there is also a program where you can spend the night with a med student instead of going to a hotel...I believe you need to set that up 1-2 weeks in advance, so be sure to ask about that if you are interested. I have no idea when I will hear back about my interview, but feel free to keep in touch...for all you know we could be sitting in class together later this year. Good luck!

 

[akhilles604]

Hello, I know this reply is quite late, i am new to this site as an actual member.
I interviewed out Iowa on January 7th, and I must say I absolutely, holistically loved the place. The faculty and staff were great. If you like college towns, then it is the place for you. Although travel was a bit rough, they lost my suit and luggage. I had to borrow a suit from an ENT resident i Know out there, who is a single brother and he loves his program (#2 in the nation) but hates the fact there are not a lot of black folks out there.
I am not sure how well my interview went, no major problems, everyone was nice, but with my undergraduate record I felt as though I ought to be more sterling, or just been out of sight you know. I was placed in the final pool phase so I will not know until March 15th whether i get in or not, but we shall see. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Strangely enough I was not going to even apply there but I recieved an email from the admissions office due to the MMSAR or whatever to apply because of my MCAT score. They extended the deadline and everything.
I hope your interview went well, I interviewed with Dr. Elson and Dr. Adams, who were both cool. The format just weirded me out, I did not know when i was rambling or what, or when to shut up. Everyone was really great though. I am married so the environment won't be a big deal for me, coming from a big city where murder and violence, and just overall misery permeate the existence. I think it will be nice to be somewhere like Iowa City.

 

[UVABranch]

I never thought those email were more than spam! you mean I shoudlda been apply to all those schools who sent emails? :-\

 

[akhilles604]

Well the first time i took the MCAT in 2004 I recieved actual letters in the mail. Pitt, Drexel, and some other schools. So then I called and they essentially said they get MCAT scores 26 and above, each school is different, some are 24 above, some 25, you get the picture. Based on the scores they encourage students to apply. For me an issue was my undergraduate work, I have since been to graduate school in the sciences, so when I got the email I called the school and spoke to the name of the person on the email in addition to the minority recruiter. I was out of money essentially and told me, yah my MCAT is cool, BUT my undergraduate and graduate gpas are. There were like look, we encourage students who have not done well, to do Masters programs.
I sent them my AAMC number, and applied after the deadline. Ironically this was the dead last place I applied and the first to get back to me with an interview.
I wish I could have done better on the interview, but to answer your question. Call the names on the letter and ask them why they sent the letter, and how they view your situation. SOme schools are more focused on undergrad I found, some weight a good graduate school experience heavily. Just know that at some schools if you get above a certain threshhold score for MCAT, then it won't be what keeps you out. Of course it is advisable to do your best and/or a better score makes you more competitive, but in my experience every admissions committee is different. I am still waiting to hear from them.

 

[YBFdoctor]

I wanted to bump this thread instead of starting my own.

I received an email from the University of Iowa diversity office that basically encouraged me to take a look at their school. Has anyone else received this email, both in the past and present?? I didn't do so well on the MCAT, but if this school is making an effort to recruit minority students, maybe I should seriously consider them? Does anyone have any experience with this situation?

Thanks!

 

[Bernoull]

I wanted to bump this thread instead of starting my own.

I received an email from the University of Iowa diversity office that basically encouraged me to take a look at their school. Has anyone else received this email, both in the past and present?? I didn't do so well on the MCAT, but if this school is making an effort to recruit minority students, maybe I should seriously consider them? Does anyone have any experience with this situation?

Thanks!

In fact I got one today, thus far Iowa, missouri, illinois, alabama and florida has sent me similar stuff.

Compare ur stats with their mean & range mcat/gpa and look at OOS & Minority acceptance rates to guide your decision

 

[POW16]

Yeah I got the email as well but won't apply.

 

[macduke09]

I wanted to bump this thread instead of starting my own.

I received an email from the University of Iowa diversity office that basically encouraged me to take a look at their school. Has anyone else received this email, both in the past and present?? I didn't do so well on the MCAT, but if this school is making an effort to recruit minority students, maybe I should seriously consider them? Does anyone have any experience with this situation?

Thanks!

I would say go for it. A friend of mine received that letter last year from Iowa and a couple of other schools and convinced me to apply. From my research it seems like they really are into increasing their minority numbers...and even offer in-state tuition scholarships to URMs on occasion. I've also heard really good things about the school and facilities in general and found out to my surprise it's a pretty decent research school as well.

 

[macduke09]

ended up getting an interview here a week or 2 after being complete...pretty low gpa (strong upward trend/just a bad freshman year) but good mcat. you prob have a shot, you'll never know until you apply

 

[YBFdoctor]

ended up getting an interview here a week or 2 after being complete...pretty low gpa (strong upward trend/just a bad freshman year) but good mcat. you prob have a shot, you'll never know until you apply

congrats on your intervew! i ended up applying, but i am still waiting to hear from them. how did they notify you of your interview?

 

[macduke09]

congrats on your intervew! i ended up applying, but i am still waiting to hear from them. how did they notify you of your interview?

good luck to you! I've heard great things about the school. I got an email w/ "interview invite" in the subject and then when you long in there is an interview tab at the end. I was complete on the 9th and got the invite on the 23rd I believe. I like how you can update them with 3 times before january too.