Official 2008 Secondary Discussion Thread part 2

Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
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Anyone heard from the University of Missouri-Columbia?
 
zipmedic said:
Nah. Application season is just getting into full swing. Give it some more time. Maybe next week give them a call to make sure they received your primary.
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most people on here, including me, have found the g-town secondary in the spam folder, so check there often
 
Will UMich still give auto invites? I was verified in the middle of June but didnt add michigan until today. I think I qualify for an auto invite but I dont know if theyre still giving them.
 
what are you all putting for the question, "Describe yourself" It's so open-ended..are we supposed to talk about what we like to do or mention where we come from and our experiences? any suggestions?
 
Is their optional additional information page function like an optional essay that many other schools have? Or is it different in that they just want facts about you that you want to state. This is what they say:


"If you have additional information that you would like to include with your application, compose a document offline in a word processor and upload it here.

Use this uploaded document to record any information that does not fit into the application form, including additional majors or colleges.

You may upload only one document here. Merge your information into a single file before uploading it."


It makes me unsure of it I can talk about an adversity, or my interest in the school like I would in a normal option essay. I don't want to send something they don't want and annoy them.
 
mvenus929 said:
As a side note, is anyone complete at Cornell? How long did it take from the time you sent your letters off til the time you were complete?
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I was complete at Cornell on 7/16 and my letters were uploaded onto VirtualEvals on 7/13. My secondary was submitted 6/30.

I see that your letters are being sent by Interfolio- is that via regular mail? If it is, that's probably why it's taking you awhile for your file to become complete.
 
ParvatiP said:
I was complete at Cornell on 7/16 and my letters were uploaded onto VirtualEvals on 7/13. My secondary was submitted 6/30.

I see that your letters are being sent by Interfolio- is that via regular mail? If it is, that's probably why it's taking you awhile for your file to become complete.
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Well, my problem is that interfolio is telling me that they submitted them electronically (on the 10th), but the medical school doesn't accept them electronically from interfolio, so they haven't gotten them. So I'm trying to figure out if they just put down the status wrong and sent them snail mail, or if they sent them to the undergrad campus against my instructions. Since Cornell is one of my top choices, I'd rather do something to be sure than just sit around and wait and find out that my LORs were never mailed off.
 
spencerxd said:
Is their optional additional information page function like an optional essay that many other schools have? Or is it different in that they just want facts about you that you want to state. This is what they say:


"If you have additional information that you would like to include with your application, compose a document offline in a word processor and upload it here.

Use this uploaded document to record any information that does not fit into the application form, including additional majors or colleges.

You may upload only one document here. Merge your information into a single file before uploading it."


It makes me unsure of it I can talk about an adversity, or my interest in the school like I would in a normal option essay. I don't want to send something they don't want and annoy them.
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I used it for an additional essay clarifying some things/adversities. I was also unsure whether they wanted an essay or not, but I decided if they didn't want to read it, they didn't have to.
 
For Penn State's question on what you've done to make sure you're ready for difficulties in medicine, is it alright to mention the money issue? I mean they asked for difficulties you expect to face but would it be seen as taboo to write about it?
 
ecking said:
For Penn State's question on what you've done to make sure you're ready for difficulties in medicine, is it alright to mention the money issue? I mean they asked for difficulties you expect to face but would it be seen as taboo to write about it?
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Just tell them you've already gone out and accidentally killed some people, so you're ready to deal with death. 😱😀
 
mvenus929 said:
Well, my problem is that interfolio is telling me that they submitted them electronically (on the 10th), but the medical school doesn't accept them electronically from interfolio, so they haven't gotten them. So I'm trying to figure out if they just put down the status wrong and sent them snail mail, or if they sent them to the undergrad campus against my instructions. Since Cornell is one of my top choices, I'd rather do something to be sure than just sit around and wait and find out that my LORs were never mailed off.
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Ok, I see your problem. I'm guessing that Interfolio will probably mail your LORs if Cornell doesn't accept the letters electronically (in my case, one of my schools didn't accept VirtualEvals so my undergrad mailed my letters to the school). You might want to check up with Interfolio just to make sure, but if they were mailed, it will take longer for your file to be complete.
 
Just letting everyone know that UCLA sent an email saying they received my AMCAS app.
 
ParvatiP said:
Ok, I see your problem. I'm guessing that Interfolio will probably mail your LORs if Cornell doesn't accept the letters electronically (in my case, one of my schools didn't accept VirtualEvals so my undergrad mailed my letters to the school). You might want to check up with Interfolio just to make sure, but if they were mailed, it will take longer for your file to be complete.
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Yeah, I know it'll take longer. I'm just anxious 🙂. I've e-mailed interfolio twice, and they haven't gotten back to me yet. Like I said, I just don't want to sit and wait, and wait, and wait, only to find out that they weren't mailed. Thanks for your help, though 🙂
 
zipmedic said:
Just tell them you've already gone out and accidentally killed some people, so you're ready to deal with death. 😱😀
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No... it was an amateur face lift gone wrong and I don't really want to advertise my surgical ineptitude to adcoms.
 
so i submitted my Temple secondary on Tuesday. today, i logged in to check my application status, and under the "Supplemental" header, it read "There is a problem with your account. Please contact this office"...and gave and e-mail.

Did this happen to anyone else?
 
mongrel said:
Anyone heard from the University of Missouri-Columbia?
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nope nothing from Mizzou yet. I am also a missouri resident, (truman state undergrad)

hopefully mizzou gets there stuff out soon
 
wutwinb said:
so i submitted my Temple secondary on Tuesday. today, i logged in to check my application status, and under the "Supplemental" header, it read "There is a problem with your account. Please contact this office"...and gave and e-mail.

Did this happen to anyone else?
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Yeah, it happened to me too. I fired off an e-mail to them. Will let you know what they say. I'm sure it's nothing.

EDIT: I just logged in and everything is back to normal.
 
zipmedic said:
Has anyone heard anything about being complete at SUNY Downstate?
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I just called them to confirm if my application was complete and they said it was. What is weird is that they say they will email when your file is complete, but they never emailed me. 🙁

BTW... I just contacted Temple Uni about my using my Research Letter of Rec to fulfill their requirement and they told me, and I quote, "NO." 🙁
 
Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask....


A common question I've seen on secondaries is "Why have you chosen to apply to our medical school". How have you guys been approaching this question?

Do you discuss how you're attracted to its location, teaching curriculum, reputation, re-state its mission statement, etc?

I really don't know what to say. Personally I don't really care where I get into. I just want to get into a med school, and for that reason, applied to X school.

Any tips please? Thanks.
 
bane84 said:
Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask....


A common question I've seen on secondaries is "Why have you chosen to apply to our medical school". How have you guys been approaching this question?

Do you discuss how you're attracted to its location, teaching curriculum, reputation, re-state its mission statement, etc?

I really don't know what to say. Personally I don't really care where I get into. I just want to get into a med school, and for that reason, applied to X school.

Any tips please? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Look at their web site and find the things that the school is interested in/focused on. Mission statement is a good place to start. Once you know what they're all about, find strengths that you have that match the schools strengths and write about that. Location is fine if you have a compelling reason (ie. I want to return to my childhood city of X because I have family that will be able to help me with my newborn child while I attend med school...). Mostly, I find what the school is most proud of in their mission and curriculum and any unique features and make my strengths play to theirs.
 
I got an email from UNC today (i'm instate) basically telling me that they've received my AMCAS. It also had an attachment about the process in general. Did a lot of people get this email? Did anyone get a secondary?
 
anotherpremed said:
I got an email from UNC today (i'm instate) basically telling me that they've received my AMCAS. It also had an attachment about the process in general. Did a lot of people get this email? Did anyone get a secondary?
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I got the same email too and I'm OOS. I guess they're just letting us know they're starting the pre-secondary review process.
 
anotherpremed said:
I got an email from UNC today (i'm instate) basically telling me that they've received my AMCAS. It also had an attachment about the process in general. Did a lot of people get this email? Did anyone get a secondary?
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I just received that today too. The way the first few sentences were worded, I thought it was a rejection :laugh: But no, no secondary yet, just confirmation that they got my AMCAS.
 
I liked the UNC email, considering I already got one from the MDPhD program telling me I passed their screening and would get a secondary "when available".

In this process, I'm grateful for redundancy. Anything that doesn't make me feel forgotten.
 
I'm stuck on the prompt "describe yourself" in 1000 characters. Should I take the approach in which I begin with my childhood and move forward OR should I start with "I'm energetic, freindly, blah blah" and make it sound like an ad for match.com? Thanks guys!
 
This is to confirm that your application to Boston University School of Medicine is now complete. Applications are reviewed in the order in which they were completed, and as we have received a large number of early applications this year, please understand that this may take some time.

I received this today. According to the status page I am now under review. Do you think this is just a form letter or have they really already received a large number of applications? I mean, come on, I just got their email to complete the secondary two weeks ago.
 
Has anyone just gotten an application from Boston recently?
 
premeddick said:
I received this today. According to the status page I am now under review. Do you think this is just a form letter or have they really already received a large number of applications? I mean, come on, I just got their email to complete the secondary two weeks ago.
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Wow, now I'm irritated. I returned their secondary on 6/30 and my letters were available to them via VirtualEvals on 7/2. What the...
 
wow if boston has already received a large amount of apps i am screwed i thought i was early i already submitted my bu secondary app but i am still waiting on one more LOR
 
That sucks, I haven't even received a BU secondary yet.

Anyone complete yet at SUNY Upstate? Whenever I log into the site (with the username and password they gave me) I just see applications for grad school and nursing. Do they wait to receive your payment before letting you see your status? If so, that makes sense given I only mailed my payment early last week.
 
PermanentWaves said:
That sucks, I haven't even received a BU secondary yet.

Anyone complete yet at SUNY Upstate? Whenever I log into the site (with the username and password they gave me) I just see applications for grad school and nursing. Do they wait to receive your payment before letting you see your status? If so, that makes sense given I only mailed my payment early last week.
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I've been complete at Suny Upstate for a while now. I think it is because u mailed payment.
 
I forgot to add... Does Albany's secondary Essays count spaces when determing character lenght just like the Personal Statemen?
 
Yeah, BU is a turtle in logging in LORs. They've had access to mine (downloadable from VirtualEvals) since 7/2, and my BU status page still doesn't show them as received.

On the other hand, I submitted the Vermont secondary on 7/14, and when I logged onto my status page today it said:

We have received all application materials that you have submitted. Your file is UNDER PRELIMINARY REVIEW. The review of your file may take several (6-8) weeks.

Once the review is complete your status will be updated and you will be notified via the Online Applicant Center.

Please continue to check your status periodically through the Online Applicant Center. We appreciate your patience!
 
Also, I emailed Wake yesterday because I got a pre-secondary hold email on July 18th, the day my MCAT scores were going to be released. And when I checked my Wake status page, it said that my application was on hold until my "August MCAT scores" would be released. Granted, I'm not taking an August MCAT (unless they're trying to give me a hint or something). So, I emailed them, and they said that they only download MCAT scores every other week into their system, so I won't have their pre-secondary decision for two more weeks. Just an FYI for those of you who took the June 15th MCAT and are waiting for a secondary from Wake.

From what I've read on here I doubt I'll receive one, but it's still nice to know when the decision should be made. And for comparison's sake, if you're applying to UIC and are still waiting for a secondary from them, they emailed it to me the day after my MCAT score was released. Talk about fast.... Also, Vandy emailed to tell me that they took me off their hold list the day my score was released.
 
i got an email from ucla requesting a secondary today.

but im having trouble finding it...maybe my status on the website hasn't been updated yet
 
yellowumbrella said:
i got an email from ucla requesting a secondary today.

but im having trouble finding it...maybe my status on the website hasn't been updated yet
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i got my ucla secondary today too (whoop! they send them to less than 1/2 the applicants, i believe). i called and they said they were fixing the problem, and it should be ready in a few hours
 
Anyone complete at Uni. Of Cincinnati?

I called them just now and they said they wont list people's files as complete until they are entirely finished with the 2007 cycle. They said it might take a few more weeks before that happens.
 
Hey I got the email from UCSF saying they received my AMCAS about a week ago, but haven't heard anything about the secondary yet. Has anyone else?
 
weeeeeeeee creighton's secondary is out

Please state your reasons for applying to Creighton University School of Medicine.
Please limit your response to 2000 characters (approx. 250 words).

Describe a non-science course and/or professor that has had a major influence on your:
A: Desire to become a physician, or
B: Approach to the practice of medicine.
Please limit your response to 2000 characters (approx. 250 words).
 
University of Nebraska's is out..... no essays required
 
viciouz said:
Anyone complete at Uni. Of Cincinnati?

I called them just now and they said they wont list people's files as complete until they are entirely finished with the 2007 cycle. They said it might take a few more weeks before that happens.
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yeah, i asked them the same thing. my LORs still show up as "no received". boo!
 
Yah they said they wont download any letters until they are completly done with the 2007 cycle.
 
for the two cool cats that got ucla secondaries, are you guys/gals california residents?
 
Has anyone finished the Loyola secondary? I was wondering what could be classified as "self-education" and "independent scholastic work" for question #4?

"What self-education, research, or independent scholastic work have you undertaken and what do you feel you have accomplished in this work?"
 
kirseb said:
Has anyone finished the Loyola secondary? I was wondering what could be classified as "self-education" and "independent scholastic work" for question #4?

"What self-education, research, or independent scholastic work have you undertaken and what do you feel you have accomplished in this work?"
Click to expand...

I just talked about how I opened 2 business by teaching myself how to, and I will talk about my research and how its helped me do better in school.
 
I tried to find posts on Tulane or Drexel but couldn't find anything. Has anybody received secondaries from them yet? Thanks 🙂
 
Hello,

Here are the questions from UCLA. DAMN, so many...

"The committee would like to know about your interests, experiences, and personal characteristics which are relevant to a career in medicine. Please only provide information you believe is important. It is not necessary or required to supply information in all sections. Each response is limited to 800 characters. A character counter for each response has been included to assist you with this limitation.

  • Describe involvement in the ONE most important non-academic activity that has been important in your life?
  • What has been the ONE most unique leadership, entrepreneurial or creative activity in which you participated?
  • What has been the ONE most important volunteer work you have done and why was it meaningful?
  • What is the ONE most important honor you have received? Why do you view this as important?
  • What has been your most scholarly project (thesis, research or field of study in basic or clinical science or in the humanities)? Describe one and give number of hours, dates and advisor.
  • Describe a problem in your life. Include how you dealt with it and how it influenced your growth.
  • List major paid work experience during (or since) college. Give dates, description, approximate hours worked (list the most recent first).
  • If there is any hardship to which you would like the committee to give special attention in evaluating your application, then check the box labeled 'Hardship' and briefly explain why you are indicating a hardship. Include any geographic, language, economic, academic, physical, or mental factors.
  • Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What experiences have led you to this goal?"
 
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