Is it harder to be accepted to UCLA medical school if you are oos?

[a1342]

I still have a way to go before applying to medical school but I was just wondering if they give preference to California residents. On their website it says they do not but I heard differently. UCLA is my dream school so if you can give me any tips on what UCLA specifically looks for or what I could do that would be appreciated. Also I am a first generation college student, does that help? Thanks in advance.

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[gyngyn]

I still have a way to go before applying to medical school but I was just wondering if they give preference to California residents. On their website it says they do not but I heard differently. UCLA is my dream school so if you can give me any tips on what UCLA specifically looks for or what I could do that would be appreciated. Also I am a first generation college student, does that help? Thanks in advance.

You "just" need to have something special that we can't get in CA!
This goes for all the CA schools (except UCR and UCD to a lesser degree).

 

[tuf13119]

sorry wrong post from me

 

[resiroth]

I still have a way to go before applying to medical school but I was just wondering if they give preference to California residents. On their website it says they do not but I heard differently. UCLA is my dream school so if you can give me any tips on what UCLA specifically looks for or what I could do that would be appreciated. Also I am a first generation college student, does that help? Thanks in advance.

They honestly don't, it's just that most of their applicants are from California. That being said UCLA is a long shot for any applicant. I would honestly say a strong applicant has a better chance of being accepted to WUSTL/Columbia etc. etc. than UCLA.

Every year hundreds of pre-meds flock to the east coast despite having 35+ MCATs and 3.8+ GPAs because of how few medical schools there are in California. If you really like UCLA, apply...but don't count on it.

 

[Doug Underhill]

You "just" need to have something special that we can't get in CA!

Got it. I'll show up to the interview with Nashville-style hot chicken. Now, I just need to keep it fresh on the plane ride over. Do I have to bring enough for everyone, or just the interviewers?

 

[gyngyn]

Got it. I'll show up to the interview with Nashville-style hot chicken. Now, I just need to keep it fresh on the plane ride over. Do I have to bring enough for everyone, or just the interviewers?

Gotta get the II first!

 

[resiroth]

Gotta get the II first!

Gyngyn, you're not familiar with the latest trend in medical school admissions: "in the area" chicken offerings.

 

[a1342]

Thanks

 

[efle]

UCLA interviewed 3x as many instate as out of state in the most recent MSAR (12% vs 4%). UCSD was 2x as many instate interviews (13% vs 6%).

Is this really just because Californian applicants are so good compared to the rest of the nation, or is there an unofficial instate bias? @gyngyn

 

[gyngyn]

UCLA interviewed 3x as many instate as out of state in the most recent MSAR (12% vs 4%). UCSD was 2x as many instate interviews (13% vs 6%).

Is this really just because Californian applicants are so good compared to the rest of the nation, or is there an unofficial instate bias? @gyngyn

We have the pick of the litter of some of the best students in the country.
It only makes sense to interview them, especially if they are more likely to attend.

 

[Lawpy]

We have the pick of the litter of some of the best students in the country.
It only makes sense to interview them, especially if they are more likely to attend.

That's actually a very powerful factor that can explain the apparent IS/OOS discrepancies.

 

[breakintheroof]

That's actually a very powerful factor that can explain the apparent IS/OOS discrepancies.

Even private schools have this discrepancy sometimes. I also wonder if some of it has to do with local students being somehow connected to the school. (Or, on the interview side, faculty or donor offspring.) This probably wouldn't be detectable in California since it's such a huge state, though.

Then again, last time I checked, Stanford had virtually identical IS/OOS interview and acceptance percentages. I wonder how that can be explained. Perhaps they simply don't feel they have to worry about whether people will come. (Cue almost every other admissions dean: "Must be nice...")

 

[gyngyn]

Even private schools have this discrepancy sometimes. I also wonder if some of it has to do with local students being somehow connected to the school. (Or, on the interview side, faculty or donor offspring.) This probably wouldn't be detectable in California since it's such a huge state, though.

Then again, last time I checked, Stanford had virtually identical IS/OOS interview and acceptance percentages. I wonder how that can be explained. Perhaps they simply don't feel they have to worry about whether people will come. (Cue almost every other admissions dean: "Must be nice...")

And only 90 students...

 

[breakintheroof]

And only 90 students...

Is their class size relevant for their IS/OOS equality, or "Must be nice?"

 

[gyngyn]

Is their class size relevant for their IS/OOS equality, or "Must be nice?"

Even less than half the work!

 

[breakintheroof]

Even less than half the work!

Ha ha, one wonders how they managed to overenroll a year or two ago despite their advantages. Yield prediction must be tricky.

Anyway, sorry @a1342 about the sidetrack. As the rest of the thread says, it's easier to get into UCLA in-state because it's easier to show you will actually come if you're already there. But since UCLA is your dream school, I hope you have your own reasons that you'd like to matriculate, and that you can communicate them to UCLA.

 

[gyngyn]

Ha ha, one wonders how they managed to overenroll a year or two ago despite their advantages. Yield prediction must be tricky.

Anyway, sorry @a1342 about the sidetrack. As the rest of the thread says, it's easier to get into UCLA in-state because it's easier to show you will actually come if you're already there. But since UCLA is your dream school, I hope you have your own reasons that you'd like to matriculate, and that you can communicate them to UCLA.

There's a new admission's dean now.

 

[efle]

Isn't the whole point of waitlists so schools can err safely on the side of under accepting?

 

[breakintheroof]

Now there's a new admission's dean.

Ouch. Their new dean seems great, I hope she does well.

 

[Lawpy]

Isn't the whole point of waitlists so schools can err safely on the side of under accepting?

It's often a difficult and heartbreaking decision to waitlist too many amazing applicants so schools play safe by overaccepting

 

[gyngyn]

Isn't the whole point of waitlists so schools can err safely on the side of under accepting?

We actually overaccept, based on an estimate of how many will choose to go elsewhere. We all hope to get to the waitlist (eventually).

 

[justadream]

We actually overaccept, based on an estimate of how many will choose to go elsewhere. We all hope to get to the waitlist (eventually).

Right, but isn't your "overaccepting" actually "underaccepting"?

For example, let's say you have 100 spots.

Your yield is 50%.

Thus, you might initially accept 180 students. If your yield estimate is correct, you will have 90 people. Then, you take 10+ people off the waitlist (10 plus because not everyone you take off the WL will come).

 

[gyngyn]

Right, but isn't your "overaccepting" actually "underaccepting"?

For example, let's say you have 100 spots.

Your yield is 50%.

Thus, you might initially accept 180 students. If your yield estimate is correct, you will have 90 people. Then, you take 10+ people off the waitlist (10 plus because not everyone you take off the WL will come).

Yes, we under-overaccept!

 

[efle]

Right, but isn't your "overaccepting" actually "underaccepting"?

For example, let's say you have 100 spots.

Your yield is 50%.

Thus, you might initially accept 180 students. If your yield estimate is correct, you will have 90 people. Then, you take 10+ people off the waitlist (10 plus because not everyone you take off the WL will come).

This is what I meant thanks JD

@gyngyn Do the most competitive schools really see significant waitlist motion or is it down to such a science that either nobody gets off waitlist, or only a handful do, like with undergrad admissions?

 

[Goro]

It's really one of Dark Arts. I still can't figure out how our wily old Admissions Dean manages to do it.

Right, but isn't your "overaccepting" actually "underaccepting"?

For example, let's say you have 100 spots.

Your yield is 50%.

Thus, you might initially accept 180 students. If your yield estimate is correct, you will have 90 people. Then, you take 10+ people off the waitlist (10 plus because not everyone you take off the WL will come).

 

[NeuResurgens]

It's really one of Dark Arts. I still can't figure out how our wily old Admissions Dean manages to do it.

You call him this every time you mention him and it gets better and better, haha.

As far as California schools go.. I think the apparent instate bias, and this includes UCLA, happens because students who have connections to California are more likely to end up matriculating there.

 

[ridethecliche]

It's really one of Dark Arts. I still can't figure out how our wily old Admissions Dean manages to do it.

I'm pretty sure you have this 'hot keyed' and do it every time someone asks about yield and admission.

 

[gyngyn]

@gyngyn Do the most competitive schools really see significant waitlist motion or is it down to such a science that either nobody gets off waitlist, or only a handful do, like with undergrad admissions?

This can be quite variable. Some CA schools take a boatload of folks off the waitlist routinely.

 

[breakintheroof]

@gyngyn Do the most competitive schools really see significant waitlist motion or is it down to such a science that either nobody gets off waitlist, or only a handful do, like with undergrad admissions?

UCSF has already taken multiple students off their waitlist this cycle. They seem to take significant numbers every year based on what gets reported here.

Another top school recently did them one better by taking students who'd been rejected and retro-waitlisting them. That's a truly dark art: necromancy.

 

[a1342]

This is off topic but does being a first generation college student give someone a slight advantage at being accepted to medical school? Or do things like that not play a factor.

 

[MrLogan13]

It's hard for Californians to get into a UC, man.

 

[Goro]

I suspect that he knows I'm referring to him. I like to tease him in a different way at our Adcom meetings.

I'm pretty sure you have this 'hot keyed' and do it every time someone asks about yield and admission.