Official 2008 Secondary Discussion Thread part 2

Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
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i doubt they screen, i just think people are paranoid because it hasnt been released yet.
 
On Columbia's secondary they ask the question: About how many hours per week, if any, did you spend in work for which you were recompensed during the college year? (200 char) Does this question mean only the positions where I was being paid, or does getting credit also count as compensation?

The following question asks: What sort of work did you do? (Include summer employment). (1100 char) Are they now asking you to describe only the positions you mentioned in the previous question or is this about work that you've ever done in college?

At my school whenever I did research I had the option of being paid, getting credit, or doing it for volunteer, and I did a combination of those based on whatever was available to me at the beginning of each semester. I'm not really sure how to talk about these research positions and in what depth - I can't really skip talking about a particular semester just because I wasn't paid during that time...
 
SnoPearl said:
On Columbia's secondary they ask the question: About how many hours per week, if any, did you spend in work for which you were recompensed during the college year? (200 char) Does this question mean only the positions where I was being paid, or does getting credit also count as compensation?

The following question asks: What sort of work did you do? (Include summer employment). (1100 char) Are they now asking you to describe only the positions you mentioned in the previous question or is this about work that you've ever done in college?

At my school whenever I did research I had the option of being paid, getting credit, or doing it for volunteer, and I did a combination of those based on whatever was available to me at the beginning of each semester. I'm not really sure how to talk about these research positions and in what depth - I can't really skip talking about a particular semester just because I wasn't paid during that time...
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I talked about actual jobs where I was paid during that question, and talked about other research in the other questions, but I'm sure if you put them all in that question, it wouldn't be inappropriate with what you've said about it.
 
Misty said:
by tennessee do you mean ut-memphis? if so, yes, i got theirs via email last week.
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yup, that's what i meant. i figure that if i get one it will be a while since i'm an OOS (contiguous state).
 
Anyone hear from Nevada, Colorado, OHSU, or Utah yet?
 
Hi All,

Any ideas on what to write about for the "Describe yourself" question? Is it supposed to be focused on personal qualities or hobbies, interests etc.? I am overwhelmed by this question.

Thanks guys!
 
Simran1 said:
Hi All,

Any ideas on what to write about for the "Describe yourself" question? Is it supposed to be focused on personal qualities or hobbies, interests etc.? I am overwhelmed by this question.

Thanks guys!
Click to expand...

Seriously, it's not a trick. Just describe yourself. If you were in the room for an interview and they asked, "Tell us about yourself," what would you say?
 
I took the June 15th MCAT, and live in Chicago, and finally just received the screened Loyola secondary by mail. Filled it out in an hour and am headed off to the post office now. Woo!

So, for 6/15 MCATers outside of Chicago, you should be receiving the secondary any day now....
 
phoenix1 said:
I took the June 15th MCAT, and live in Chicago, and finally just received the screened Loyola secondary by mail. Filled it out in an hour and am headed off to the post office now. Woo!

So, for 6/15 MCATers outside of Chicago, you should be receiving the secondary any day now....
Click to expand...

An hour? Did you answer most of the questions in your personal statement? That one took forever for me.
 
Has anyone had a problem accessing UCLA's secondary? I tried accessing it, but it won't let me in (i.e. "no matching records or incomplete data field").

Also, I am trying to do Maryland's secondary, but I am having trouble with the first question: Briefly describe your most important exposure to clinical medicine.

Although, I have clinical experiences (i.e. assisting patients), I don't have medical clinical exposure (i.e. shadowing). Any suggestions on what to do?
 
drizzt3117 said:
An hour? Did you answer most of the questions in your personal statement? That one took forever for me.
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I directed them to my personal statement for two of the questions (I LOVED that they gave that option), and had pre-answered three others a couple of weeks ago when the secondary first came out. I wrote one essay today during that hour (the anything else you'd like to add essay), and edited/cut some of the other essays down a little. I hope I won't be penalized for writing 30 or 33 lines instead of 25. But it didn't cut the answers off like on some secondaries if you go over the "suggested" limit (I think EVMS did that - it would look like you were writing, but then it would just cut your essay when you previewed it). Anyway, I had been chomping at the bit to get this one (and it's been about a week since I got any secondaries), so I was both eager and motivated.

So far U of Chicago's took me the longest by far. They had the longest essays, and I had to write all of them from scratch. For most other secondaries I've been able to recycle quite a bit.

19 down and 7 to go (if I get all 7, which I highly doubt).
 
Some secondaries ask what you will be doing this year if you are not in school. I basically wrote that I will be working in research, the name of the lab,the institution, and that I have volunteered there for the past 2 years. Should I go into the details about the actual research? I just feel it is clearly stated in amcas already. 🙁
 
Dayne said:
Has anyone had a problem accessing UCLA's secondary? I tried accessing it, but it won't let me in (i.e. "no matching records or incomplete data field").

Also, I am trying to do Maryland's secondary, but I am having trouble with the first question: Briefly describe your most important exposure to clinical medicine.

Although, I have clinical experiences (i.e. assisting patients), I don't have medical clinical exposure (i.e. shadowing). Any suggestions on what to do?
Click to expand...

Clinical medicine just means not academic medicine. It doesn't have to be shadowing.
 
saqrfaraj said:
Clinical medicine just means not academic medicine. It doesn't have to be shadowing.
Click to expand...

I don't know about that... I think shadowing a physician who is a professor at a medical school (academic medicine) is still 'clinical medicine'

I would say any medical experience with exposure/interaction with patients is 'clinical medicine' i.e. not experience in a biomedical company or medical research, etc.
 
enigma85 said:
I would say any medical experience with exposure/interaction with patients is 'clinical medicine' i.e. not experience in a biomedical company or medical research, etc.
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I concur.
 
enigma85 said:
I don't know about that... I think shadowing a physician who is a professor at a medical school (academic medicine) is still 'clinical medicine'

I would say any medical experience with exposure/interaction with patients is 'clinical medicine' i.e. not experience in a biomedical company or medical research, etc.
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I think you've missed the point. I didn't say that shadowing a physician-professor isn't clinical medicine. If he's in a hospital setting, then of course it's clinical.

All I said is that to be clinical, it's not academic. Obviously it's possible for a physician to be involved in both.
 
phoenix1 said:
I directed them to my personal statement for two of the questions (I LOVED that they gave that option), and had pre-answered three others a couple of weeks ago when the secondary first came out. I wrote one essay today during that hour (the anything else you'd like to add essay), and edited/cut some of the other essays down a little. I hope I won't be penalized for writing 30 or 33 lines instead of 25. But it didn't cut the answers off like on some secondaries if you go over the "suggested" limit (I think EVMS did that - it would look like you were writing, but then it would just cut your essay when you previewed it). Anyway, I had been chomping at the bit to get this one (and it's been about a week since I got any secondaries), so I was both eager and motivated.

So far U of Chicago's took me the longest by far. They had the longest essays, and I had to write all of them from scratch. For most other secondaries I've been able to recycle quite a bit.

19 down and 7 to go (if I get all 7, which I highly doubt).
Click to expand...

You put 33 lines in the preview, or in the box?

The longest for me was probably Wisconsin b/c it was the first one I did (and the limits were really long) After I finished the first ten or so, I used a lot of similar language in future essays and mostly tailored them for the prompt. After you've written 10-15 secondaries you've answered a lot of the same questions anyways.
 
For these "Why our school?" essays that have no word limit, roughly how long are most people's? I just want to get a feel for the average length of these are. I know the popular answer is to write until you've answered the question, but are people concocting magnum opuses singing the praises of the school in superior detail? Or just quickly touching on a few key elements (maybe specific programs, the structure of the curriculum, location of the school) that are attractive?
 
anyone else's wake forest status get updated? mine says something about hearing something in 1-2 weeks...(this is post-secondary).

edit: for UCLA's secondary, when they say most important non-academic activity, would something like tutoring be okay?
 
just a girl said:
anyone else's wake forest status get updated? mine says something about hearing something in 1-2 weeks...(this is post-secondary).

edit: for UCLA's secondary, when they say most important non-academic activity, would something like tutoring be okay?
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Tutoring would be fine, or any other hobby or activity would be fine too.
 
anyone hear from upstate, stony brook, or tufts?
 
drizzt3117 said:
You put 33 lines in the preview, or in the box?

The longest for me was probably Wisconsin b/c it was the first one I did (and the limits were really long) After I finished the first ten or so, I used a lot of similar language in future essays and mostly tailored them for the prompt. After you've written 10-15 secondaries you've answered a lot of the same questions anyways.
Click to expand...

Errr, I counted about 33 in the box while I was typing. I didn't realize there might be a difference between how many lines showed up in the box vs. how many showed up in the printed preview. Were there more lines in your printed copy than in the box, or less? I don't have my printed copy with me. I'll have to check when I get home this evening.
 
ParvatiP said:
I heard from Upstate about a month ago (online secondary, no essays). Have yet to hear from Stony Brook.
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i emailed upstate on july 11 and received a response the same day. they said that they were having some technical difficulties and the secondary was not available. were they lying to me? anyone else get it more recently?
 
phoenix1 said:
So far U of Chicago's took me the longest by far. They had the longest essays, and I had to write all of them from scratch. For most other secondaries I've been able to recycle quite a bit.
Click to expand...

Same here, luckily I finished that one Sunday.
But the essays were definitely a pain.
 
rogerwilco said:
For these "Why our school?" essays that have no word limit, roughly how long are most people's? I just want to get a feel for the average length of these are. I know the popular answer is to write until you've answered the question, but are people concocting magnum opuses singing the praises of the school in superior detail? Or just quickly touching on a few key elements (maybe specific programs, the structure of the curriculum, location of the school) that are attractive?
Click to expand...


mine are around 250-300 words
 
Okay... What is the deal with Wright State. I got an email from them saying there was a glitch and it was supposed to be fixed on the 23rd and I still can't submit mine. Has anyone heard anything?

They haven't replied to any emails or even answered the phone in the office hours when they say to call...

Anyone IS get Toledo yet?
haven't gotten Loyola either, do they screen?
 
phoenix1 said:
Errr, I counted about 33 in the box while I was typing. I didn't realize there might be a difference between how many lines showed up in the box vs. how many showed up in the printed preview. Were there more lines in your printed copy than in the box, or less? I don't have my printed copy with me. I'll have to check when I get home this evening.
Click to expand...

The preview has more words per line than the box. ~37 lines in the box is about 25 lines in the preview, which is assume where the line limit is from since it's the only thing they're going to see, so if you had 33 lines in the box, then that's about right. 25 lines on the printed app is about 250 words IIRC.
 
so I just got a "Your status has been updated" e-mail from Case Western, but when I logged in there were no new Iapply messages. I've been complete for about 2 weeks now. anyone else get this e-mail/any post-secondary messages?
 
drizzt3117 said:
The preview has more words per line than the box. ~37 lines in the box is about 25 lines in the preview, which is assume where the line limit is from since it's the only thing they're going to see, so if you had 33 lines in the box, then that's about right. 25 lines on the printed app is about 250 words IIRC.
Click to expand...

Nice. Thanks for the heads up on that!
 
prettymonkey said:
i emailed upstate on july 11 and received a response the same day. they said that they were having some technical difficulties and the secondary was not available. were they lying to me? anyone else get it more recently?
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Someone said this in another thread (maybe it was you?). All I know is that I received the email invite on 6/27, filled it out, and mailed my check the next day. I haven't received a complete notice from them yet...so I'm not sure what's going on. Looks as though everyone is in the same boat in any case.
 
wutwinb said:
so I just got a "Your status has been updated" e-mail from Case Western, but when I logged in there were no new Iapply messages. I've been complete for about 2 weeks now. anyone else get this e-mail/any post-secondary messages?
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i'm not sure, but someone in the official rejection thread said that they browsed on their status and down at the bottom of the status page there was an "iapply message" and a link to the soon to be mailed rejection letter, so maybe if yours is updated and no rejection thats good news! 🙂
 
I'm frustrated with Case because I submitted my application a couple weeks ago and according to iApply they received my LORs before I even submitted my application. Yet I haven't been marked as complete, supposedly because they haven't received my LORs. I guess I just need to give them a call 🙁
 
For those who have gotten VCU's Secondary, are you all instate? Becuase I've recieved their email about a month ago and I still haven't heard anything on my status yet? Also, I am OOS.

Another quiet morning for my inbox. >=[
 
viciouz said:
For those who have gotten VCU's Secondary, are you all instate? Becuase I've recieved their email about a month ago and I still haven't heard anything on my status yet? Also, I am OOS.
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I received a secondary and I'm IS. However, OOS applicants on the forums have been getting them too. I guess you just have to be patient.
 
I think they do. From their website:

"Applications are received by AMCAS from June 15 to November 15. After receiving the application materials from AMCAS, our Admissions Office will review the materials. If your credentials qualify, we will notify you to fill out an on-line supplemental application, which should be returned to us within two weeks (no later than December 1). After reviewing that form, two faculty members will determine whether to proceed with an interview. The earliest we can notify students of acceptance is in February for those entering the following August."
 
anotherpremed said:
I think they do. From their website:

"Applications are received by AMCAS from June 15 to November 15. After receiving the application materials from AMCAS, our Admissions Office will review the materials. If your credentials qualify, we will notify you to fill out an on-line supplemental application, which should be returned to us within two weeks (no later than December 1). After reviewing that form, two faculty members will determine whether to proceed with an interview. The earliest we can notify students of acceptance is in February for those entering the following August."
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From the email I just got:

"Duke does NOT screen applicants until the secondary is completed and submitted to Duke. All applicants who have designated Duke as a recipient of your AMCAS application will receive the Duke Secondary/Supplemental Application."
 
DrBowtie said:
From the email I just got:

"Duke does NOT screen applicants until the secondary is completed and submitted to Duke. All applicants who have designated Duke as a recipient of your AMCAS application will receive the Duke Secondary/Supplemental Application."
Click to expand...

I hate mixed signals. Looks like I'll have more essays to write... 😳
 
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