Official 2008 Secondary Discussion Thread part 2

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I got an E-mail from Iowa today that told me to wait for information in the mail about a password and username for their secondary. Anyone else? IS/OOS?

/oos.
 
div0t17 said:
I got an E-mail from Iowa today that told me to wait for information in the mail about a password and username for their secondary. Anyone else? IS/OOS?

/oos.
Click to expand...


I did as well...not sure how long we have to wait to get this info in the mail. In any case, I'm not happy about waiting around for materials to arrive in the mail when the application is online anyway...
 
icemountain23 said:
I did as well...not sure how long we have to wait to get this info in the mail. In any case, I'm not happy about waiting around for materials to arrive in the mail when the application is online anyway...
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agreed. I'm sure they have some reason...albeit a poor one, no doubt.
 
I'm working on the UCLA secondary, and I'm seeing that they don't take AP credit. I plan to call and ask them, but I was wondering if anyone knows the answer to my question.

Does that mean I need to go and take college level math (I would technically need 2 more quarters), english (2 more quarters), and physics (1/2 a semester more) now? I'm three years out of college, and the thought of taking all those classes is not the most appealing way of spending my free time. I'd rather go study Spanish sitting at the beach in Costa Rica (which still remains my plan for the time being)...

Since when did my hard earned AP credits become useless? It seems silly that so many schools accept them as credit, and other places ignore them.
 
Also, I wanted to let you guys know that I just got a snail mail letter from SUNY Downstate confirming that my application is complete. According to the letter, further correspondence will be via email.

In case anyone's wondering about how they notify you...
 
div0t17 said:
I got an E-mail from Iowa today that told me to wait for information in the mail about a password and username for their secondary. Anyone else? IS/OOS?

/oos.
Click to expand...

Yessa, I got that email too. OOS
 
bep207 said:
nope nothing from Mizzou yet. I am also a missouri resident, (truman state undergrad)

hopefully mizzou gets there stuff out soon
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They're working on making the secondary web-based (in the past it's always been snail mail). It's been a work in progress for months and they're "this close" to having it ready.
 
kirseb said:
yeah, mine ended being around 200 words. Thanks for the help =)
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hiya...so i just received wake forest's secondary.🙂..do they screen??.... I asked before but is there a thread which states which schools screen and which one's don't??

thanks
Mel🙂
 
Does anyone else feel that Maryland's essay section is a bit much? "what does it mean to be entering a profession?" it seems like they are trying to gauge our ability to bs. i feel bad for whoever has to read all this crap.
 
dancinRN1022 said:
hiya...so i just received wake forest's secondary.🙂..do they screen??.... I asked before but is there a thread which states which schools screen and which one's don't??

thanks
Mel🙂
Click to expand...

yes, Wake Forest screens before sending out invites for their secondary. I believe there is a thread already started for which schools screen or not..just have to search around =) gluck!
 
does anybody know how many percentage of applicants ucsd gives secondaries to? i hear ucla is 50% (which i'm not sure if its correct or not), but was wondering what it was for ucsd
 
For UCLA:

Describe involvement in the ONE most important non-academic activity that has been important in your life?

does this refer to a hobby or recreational activity? (i.e. arts, sports, music, etc.) or does it apply to any EC that's not based on teaching/classes/etc.
 
On EVMS, I notice each essay question has sort of a text box that can be scrolled down if you write enough. When you go to print it out to send it, will all the text appear? Or do you have to have everything fit exactly within those two inches or so?
 
So does Toledo email you for the secondary or are you just supposed to go to their site and download the pdf file?
 
rogerwilco said:
On EVMS, I notice each essay question has sort of a text box that can be scrolled down if you write enough. When you go to print it out to send it, will all the text appear? Or do you have to have everything fit exactly within those two inches or so?
Click to expand...

It only prints the text box size.. with a little + that indicates there is more writing.. nothing else
 
Does anybody know what UCLA means when it asks for one important honor you have received?

Is this an award? An experience?
 
Wayne State is out today via snail mail
 
Hey, I'm a SDN relative newbie. I haven't posted or been on the site much, so I don't know if this question was answered elsewhere, but in any event, perhaps someone can help....

Ok, it's end of July. I've submitted my primary application and am beginning to get a few secondaries. Thing is, my undergrauate school (I'm a fews year out of UG) has informed that the committee letter they're writing for me won't be finished for a month :scared:. Should I submit my secondaries ASAP? Or will schools not consider my application complete until they receive EVERYTHING, including all LOR's and committee letters, are submitted, and I therefore don't need to feel rushed to answer those secondaries?

In another way, is there any ADVANTAGE to submitting the secondary quickly WITHOUT all LOR's rather than waiting a bit and submitting everything together?
 
Jsmooth said:
does anybody know how many percentage of applicants ucsd gives secondaries to? i hear ucla is 50% (which i'm not sure if its correct or not), but was wondering what it was for ucsd
Click to expand...

I believe it's 1900/5500.
 
smo08 said:
In another way, is there any ADVANTAGE to submitting the secondary quickly WITHOUT all LOR's rather than waiting a bit and submitting everything together?
Click to expand...

There is no advantage because you won't be considered complete and under review until all materials have been received by the school. You should still work on those secondaries though so they don't all pile up and you have to do them all at once. That's never fun.
 
On the Columbia secondary, for ethnicity, what should I put down for being Chinese? The Asian options are: Asian-Pacific Islander, South Asia, or Southeast Asia. I've generally considered China to be East Asia, so I wasn't sure what to pick from these three choices.
 
SnoPearl said:
On the Columbia secondary, for ethnicity, what should I put down for being Chinese? The Asian options are: Asian-Pacific Islander, South Asia, or Southeast Asia. I've generally considered China to be East Asia, so I wasn't sure what to pick from these three choices.
Click to expand...

Asian-Pacific Islander
 
I think SLU sent out a mass Email to all students, even to those who already applied there.
 
viciouz said:
I think SLU sent out a mass Email to all students, even to those who already applied there.
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yeah, i just got one, too. i assume it's the e-mail equivalent of a viewbook?
 
I want to thank SLU for making my heart skip with that one - I've been complete for at least a week now; the last thing I want on a Sunday night is an ambiguously titled email.
 
I am reapplying this year and am trying to get a headstart on all of the secondary essays this time around. For the rosalind Franklin "life in discovery" essay, does anybody know approximately how long it is supposed to be? I know that it is in PDF format, but since I am not able to access the secondary yet, I have no idea how long I should try to make the essay. Thanks for any info!
 
Lauriann said:
I am reapplying this year and am trying to get a headstart on all of the secondary essays this time around. For the rosalind Franklin "life in discovery" essay, does anybody know approximately how long it is supposed to be? I know that it is in PDF format, but since I am not able to access the secondary yet, I have no idea how long I should try to make the essay. Thanks for any info!
Click to expand...

It's hard to say. They give you a pdf to fill out. And for the essay, it's a whole lined page. I had to cut and paste each line of my essay into the pdf separately. I just checked, and my essay was 2800 characters, or 460 words. Shoot for around there, and it should probably fit.
 
This might be kind of a dumb question, but I'm filling VCU's out right now and have another question concerning the 'lapse' inquiry. We established that the lapse meant time off from school, but does that count time off after college? I'm taking a year off right now and don't know whether that counts. Thanks!
 
OCallag said:
This might be kind of a dumb question, but I'm filling VCU's out right now and have another question concerning the 'lapse' inquiry. We established that the lapse meant time off from school, but does that count time off after college? I'm taking a year off right now and don't know whether that counts. Thanks!
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I'd definitely use that spot to talk about the things you've been up to since graduating.
 
Not another quiet email/mail box day =(.

I am complete at liek 15 schools and still waiting to get some secondaries from screened schools.
 
anyone here from Drexel or Toledo, Ohio yet?
 
viciouz said:
Not another quiet email/mail box day =(.

I am complete at liek 15 schools and still waiting to get some secondaries from screened schools.
Click to expand...

Lucky you... I'm waiting to be complete at 4 schools, and waiting for 1-2 screened schools and a secondary that hasn't been released yet (and won't be until I start school up, sadly).
 
i took the mcat last august and retook this june. i submitted my amcas in june (before retaking the mcat) and most secondaries in july (still working on some). my question is, does my new mcat score from june automatically get sent to the schools by amcas/aamc? will they automatically updated my file? or should i call each individual school (which would be tedious, because i applied to ~25) to make sure they updated my file accordingly? it's just that there is a great score difference (a lot better the second time around) and i want to make sure they see that
 
mvenus929 said:
Lucky you... I'm waiting to be complete at 4 schools, and waiting for 1-2 screened schools and a secondary that hasn't been released yet (and won't be until I start school up, sadly).
Click to expand...

Well the suspense is killing me. I have a little below average stats and I am a CA resident. So I am still waiting on the UC Schools a few screened secondaries. Also not to mention those schools that just release primaries very late.

I am trying to not take chances and increase my odds by being early as possible.
 
hiya

So I have a question regarding the Harvard Med secondary... I am a non trad and I completed my bio degree in 2003, I participated in research in 2002, and I am unable to get a hold of the professor at the research lab i worked in.... how strict do you think they are with that letter of eval from that one person????
 
viciouz said:
Well the suspense is killing me. I have a little below average stats and I am a CA resident. So I am still waiting on the UC Schools a few screened secondaries. Also not to mention those schools that just release primaries very late.

I am trying to not take chances and increase my odds by being early as possible.
Click to expand...

I hear ya, but at least you know you're complete at some places. My LORs are apparently getting lost, and it's frustrating me.
 
cruz21 said:
i took the mcat last august and retook this june. i submitted my amcas in june (before retaking the mcat) and most secondaries in july (still working on some). my question is, does my new mcat score from june automatically get sent to the schools by amcas/aamc? will they automatically updated my file? or should i call each individual school (which would be tedious, because i applied to ~25) to make sure they updated my file accordingly? it's just that there is a great score difference (a lot better the second time around) and i want to make sure they see that
Click to expand...

You don't need to call up all the schools. They'll get your score. Plus, if you indicated on your AMCAS that you were retaking, they'll know it's coming and they'll be waiting.
 
OCallag said:
This might be kind of a dumb question, but I'm filling VCU's out right now and have another question concerning the 'lapse' inquiry. We established that the lapse meant time off from school, but does that count time off after college? I'm taking a year off right now and don't know whether that counts. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Shiznit...I responded to this question in terms of explaining any shortcomings in my academic performance at anytime during my undergrad education...

Should I call them and ask to re-do? ha 😕

I hope they themselves realize their wording is a bit ambiguous
 
EM84 said:
Shiznit...I responded to this question in terms of explaining any shortcomings in my academic performance at anytime during my undergrad education...

Should I call them and ask to re-do? ha 😕

I hope they themselves realize their wording is a bit ambiguous
Click to expand...

I wouldn't sweat it. The word "lapse" has a number of meanings and I'm sure they know that. Who knows, maybe they're intentionally ambiguous.

If you've ever had some time away from college though, you could always update them if you feel the need.
 
For Iowa's LORs, it says that if you're doing individual letters but having them sent from Interfolio, then you should designate choice #3 - Packet on the evaluator designation page. When you pick packet it wants the Name of the office, the institution, address, etc. What do you put for this if you're using electronic submission from Interfolio?
 
Anyone filling out the Columbia secondary?

For
4. About how many hours per week, if any, did you spend in work for which you were recompensed during the college year?*
They are inquiring specifically whether I was involved in PAID work DURING the school year (summer doesn't count right?)

5. What sort of work did you do (include summer employment)?*
What exactly do they mean by this? Do they want me to list the job? I.e. Barista at Starbucks, burger flipper at McDonalds, etc etc?
Or are they more interested in the specific work we did at our jobs?
i.e.
brewed coffee, talked to customers, flipped burgers, cleaned washrooms etc?

(and no, I didn't do any of those jobs haha).
 
hp540 said:
Anyone filling out the Columbia secondary?

For
4. About how many hours per week, if any, did you spend in work for which you were recompensed during the college year?*
They are inquiring specifically whether I was involved in PAID work DURING the school year (summer doesn't count right?)
Click to expand...

Yes.

5. What sort of work did you do (include summer employment)?*
What exactly do they mean by this? Do they want me to list the job? I.e. Barista at Starbucks, burger flipper at McDonalds, etc etc?
Or are they more interested in the specific work we did at our jobs?
i.e.
brewed coffee, talked to customers, flipped burgers, cleaned washrooms etc?

(and no, I didn't do any of those jobs haha).
Click to expand...

Consensus is they just want a list.

Columbia was my favorite app because they gave me a higher MCAT score!
 
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