Letter from Northwestern encouraging me to apply due to my URM status

[MedicalBurrito]

So I just got this letter from Northwestern saying that they have sorted through the Minority Medical Applicant Registry and they think I am a potentially competitive applicant. I would think that this is just a way to get more applications but they are also willing to waive my secondary application fee. Should I be getting my hopes up and applying? I never really considered NW because of their high stats.

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[Toutie]

So I just got this letter from Northwestern saying that they have sorted through the Minority Medical Applicant Registry and they think I am a potentially competitive applicant. I would think that this is just a way to get more applications but they are also willing to waive my secondary application fee. Should I be getting my hopes up and applying? I never really considered NW because of their high stats.

If they are willing to waive the fees, then what have you got to lose? Send in an app.

 

[PreMedMissteps]

Waiving the secondary means that they're not just wanting to pad their wallets, so do it unless you're pretty sure that your stats won't measure up.

What are your stats?

 

[PreMedMissteps]

Hey guys, I need some help finalizing my school list. Would appreciate some advice

cGPA:3.7 sGPA: 3.6 (Strong upwards trend)

MCAT: 511 (126/127/127/131)

Research: Work in two labs for a year (biology and psychology). Been in a summer research internship out of state. May publish before graduation.

Volunteering: 150 hours in clinical volunteering at local hospital, medical mission trip in a foreign country, miscellaneous volunteering.

Shadowing: Shadowed quite a bit of physician, maybe in total for like 100 hours

Extra Stuff: I am URM, I have been employed in the food service industry and customer service jobs.

School List
Boston U
Duke
Drexel
Emory
Dartmouth
Icahn
Indiana U
LSU NOLA
Mayo
NYMC
Oakland
SLU
Tufts
Tulane
UCSF
U of Michigan
UNC
U of Utah
Wake
Brown
Cornell

I am from Louisiana. I am a Hispanic male (Venezuela). I am fluent in Spanish and I have done some things with the hispanic community but nothing really big.

As a URM, looks like your stats are strong enough....go for it

 

[SpoiledMilk]

I don't want to rain on your parade, but to be safe, I think you need to get confirmation from @LizzyM @Goro @gyngyn @gonnif to determine if being Venezuelan is considered URM by AAMC standards before you send in that secondary.

 

[username456789]

If your last name sounds even remotely Hispanic in origin, they will claw tooth and nail for you.

It's not about padding their wallets. It's about patting themselves on the back.

 

[gyngyn]

Venezolanos are not generally considered UiM.
Language skills are appreciated though!

Those Med MAR lists paint with broad strokes, unfortunately.

 

[Goro]

So I just got this letter from Northwestern saying that they have sorted through the Minority Medical Applicant Registry and they think I am a potentially competitive applicant. I would think that this is just a way to get more applications but they are also willing to waive my secondary application fee. Should I be getting my hopes up and applying? I never really considered NW because of their high stats.

What are your stats? Even with a fee waiver, if you'r not likely to get in, why waste the time and effort. For NW, you should have a GPA of at least 3.7 and an MCAT of around 517+

 

[COMMANDER CLOWN]

What are your stats? Even with a fee waiver, if you'r not likely to get in, why waste the time and effort. For NW, you should have a GPA of at least 3.7 and an MCAT of around 517+

Unless you're URM

 

[zurc2014]

So I just got this letter from Northwestern saying that they have sorted through the Minority Medical Applicant Registry and they think I am a potentially competitive applicant. I would think that this is just a way to get more applications but they are also willing to waive my secondary application fee. Should I be getting my hopes up and applying? I never really considered NW because of their high stats.

I was told to take these emails seriously by a reliable source. I responded to all three of these types of emails and received IIs. Take it as you may but I would definitely apply there.

 

[gyngyn]

I was told to take these emails seriously by a reliable source. I responded to all three of these types of emails and received IIs. Take it as you may but I would definitely apply there.

If you are UiM, it can work out.

 

[Goro]

Unless you're URM

My post was for other than that

 

[bbbcccppp]

I would take the letter at face value and apply. Maybe even let it accidentally fall out of your pocket if they give you an interview.


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[PreMedMissteps]

Venezolanos are not generally considered UiM.
Language skills are appreciated though!

Those Med MAR lists paint with broad strokes, unfortunately.

Are specifics, which country, asked? I didn't know that anything more than stating that you're Hispanic/Latino was needed to be specified.

Is the definition different than it is for undergrad schools? Undergrads consider anyone from or descending from a Spanish speaking country to be Hispanic. In fact, if you simply identify as being Hispanic, that's enough. And if you're from a Portuguese country, then you're considered Latino. If you're white hispanic, you can still check the box.

If you're last name sounds even remotely Hispanic in origin, they will claw tooth and nail for you.

This

Seriously, why wouldn't a US citizen from South America qualify, but someone who's only 1/4 Mexican or Cuban would?

 

[ADSigMel]

I got that letter today as well, and was super excited because I've already submitted my primary to NW. It kinda felt like a $95 rebate, since I was going to spend the money anyway!


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[deleted854547]

Are specifics, which country, asked? I didn't know that anything more than stating that you're Hispanic/Latino was needed to be specified.

Is the definition different than it is for undergrad schools? Undergrads consider anyone from or descending from a Spanish speaking country to be Hispanic. In fact, if you simply identify as being Hispanic, that's enough. And if you're from a Portuguese country, then you're considered Latino. If you're white hispanic, you can still check the box.




This

Seriously, why wouldn't a US citizen from South America qualify, but someone who's only 1/4 Mexican or Cuban would?

UiM have traditionally been African Americans, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Native Americans. UiM has a different meaning for med school admissions purposes than it does for undergrad college applications. Cubans wouldn't be considered UiM's, and might actually be overrepresented, I believe.

 

[cactusman]

Are specifics, which country, asked? I didn't know that anything more than stating that you're Hispanic/Latino was needed to be specified.

Is the definition different than it is for undergrad schools? Undergrads consider anyone from or descending from a Spanish speaking country to be Hispanic. In fact, if you simply identify as being Hispanic, that's enough. And if you're from a Portuguese country, then you're considered Latino. If you're white hispanic, you can still check the box.




This

Seriously, why wouldn't a US citizen from South America qualify, but someone who's only 1/4 Mexican or Cuban would?

Diversity policies have different reasoning for undergrad and med school. For med school, it's about correcting a deficit in patient populations (this is why demonstrated commitment to serving your UiM community makes a big difference). For undergrad, it's about having a diverse student body with different perspectives represented, and undergrads don't seem to look much into more specific ethnicities and nationalities.

 

[LizzyM]

For a number of years, AAMC and the accrediting body, LCME, has permitted each school to define UiM as it wishes based on the demographics of the area is serves which may be local or national. A school that is a little light in diversity might use a rather broad definition and as long as they can defend it, LCME may allow it.

 

[Goro]

ASeriously, why wouldn't a US citizen from South America qualify, but someone who's only 1/4 Mexican or Cuban would?

When you get into fractions, ethnicity no longer counts as much. Evidence of commitment to service in the community is almost required at that point. You'd be surprised how many Caucasians suddenly discover their Native American ancestry when they apply to med school!

 

[PreMedMissteps]

UiM have traditionally been African Americans, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Native Americans. UiM has a different meaning for med school admissions purposes than it does for undergrad college applications. Cubans wouldn't be concas app sidered UiM's, and might actually be overrepresented, I believe.

When you get into fractions, ethnicity no longer counts as much. Evidence of commitment to service in the community is almost required at that point. You'd be surprised how many Caucasians suddenly discover their Native American ancestry when they apply to med school!

Are you saying that on the app details such as percentages and particular Hispanic country are asked?

If there isn't a place where the applicant puts 1/4 Mexican (maternal grandma, for example), then how would you know in order to diminish how it counts?

 

[gyngyn]

Are you saying that on the app details such as percentages and particular Hispanic country are asked?

Most Hispanic countries do not have communities in the US that are under-represented in medicine. There is, in fact, a place to identify origin in the primary.
Conversely, most Latinos in the US are members of under-represented groups.

 

[Goro]

Are you saying that on the app details such as percentages and particular Hispanic country are asked?

If there isn't a place where the applicant puts 1/4 Mexican (maternal grandma, for example), then how would you know in order to diminish how it counts?

People tend to mention these things their apps themselves. But they can't hide the lack of commitment to their purported ethnic communities.

 

[Light at end of tunnel]

Stats seem like an afterthought consideration for OP as it sounds like NW needs him to satisfy a certain quota.

Something tells me you're pretty much in. Send the application.

 

[Blakeb_212]

So I just got this letter from Northwestern saying that they have sorted through the Minority Medical Applicant Registry and they think I am a potentially competitive applicant. I would think that this is just a way to get more applications but they are also willing to waive my secondary application fee. Should I be getting my hopes up and applying? I never really considered NW because of their high stats.

Take the chance, especially if they are waiving your fee. This happened to me last cycle as a URM and I received an interview within two weeks. The turnaround was way faster than most schools. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and it definitely does not guarantee admittance but I would encourage you to take the opportunity provided.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Just do it. Especially because they are waiving the fee