Official SMDEP 2013 Thread

[ya0310793]

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You have no idea how many times I check...I'm paranoid b/c if you don't answer for two days your offer is retrieved so I just stay on the F5 button! Cross ya fingers..what sites did you apply too?

Lol, haha!

 

[ilguti]

do early applicants typically get into at least one site?

I am SO nervous!! I really want to do SMDEP this summer, and I'm a sophomore, so I wouldn't even be able to do it next year :/

 

[mintea]

Do you guys think it's too late to apply with a good chance of getting in? I haven't sent anything in yet x.x. I am applying to the UT-Houston one for sure and I am really nervous><. I have a 3.6 GPA, and I am going to get a rec from an upper level bio prof. My extra-curriculars are lacking however. I am active in only one, relatively small club, but I am an officer. I also haven't done any shadowing, but I am currently working on plans with a professor to research (but I can't count on it to start before I turn my application in). I also have a part time job as a hostess (relevant, right?). I feel like everyone has done internships or volunteered in a clinic or hospital :/. Thanks, and sorry for this wall of text. I tend to ramble, evidently.

P.S. Joined just so I could post on this thread. Been stalking these forums for awhile.

 

[Jared825]

Do you guys think it's too late to apply with a good chance of getting in? I haven't sent anything in yet x.x. I am applying to the UT-Houston one for sure and I am really nervous><. I have a 3.6 GPA, and I am going to get a rec from an upper level bio prof. My extra-curriculars are lacking however. I am active in only one, relatively small club, but I am an officer. I also haven't done any shadowing, but I am currently working on plans with a professor to research (but I can't count on it to start before I turn my application in). I also have a part time job as a hostess (relevant, right?). I feel like everyone has done internships or volunteered in a clinic or hospital :/. Thanks, and sorry for this wall of text. I tend to ramble, evidently.

P.S. Joined just so I could post on this thread. Been stalking these forums for awhile.

From what I've read and heard in the past, your chances of getting in decrease after the Feb 1 deadline, but you've definitely got a nice GPA and you're an officer for an organization. If I were you I'd just really hit it hard on the essays--it could make you or break you. If you have passionate, convincing essays, it will be hard for the admissions committee to pass you up. Don't think you won't get in because it's too late, because I've read on previous forums that people got in after the Feb 1 deadline. Give it a shot!

 

[jbmd15]

do early applicants typically get into at least one site?

I am SO nervous!! I really want to do SMDEP this summer, and I'm a sophomore, so I wouldn't even be able to do it next year :/

Sophomore here, I can confirm on the nervousness!

 

[Jared825]

My application is officially in review for Texas-Houston! Woo!

 

[c0l0redpens]

You have no idea how many times I check...I'm paranoid b/c if you don't answer for two days your offer is retrieved so I just stay on the F5 button! Cross ya fingers..what sites did you apply too?

Hahahaha you're my hero. I only applied to Yale.

*crickets*

 

[c0l0redpens]

Do you guys think it's too late to apply with a good chance of getting in? I haven't sent anything in yet x.x. I am applying to the UT-Houston one for sure and I am really nervous><. I have a 3.6 GPA, and I am going to get a rec from an upper level bio prof. My extra-curriculars are lacking however. I am active in only one, relatively small club, but I am an officer. I also haven't done any shadowing, but I am currently working on plans with a professor to research (but I can't count on it to start before I turn my application in). I also have a part time job as a hostess (relevant, right?). I feel like everyone has done internships or volunteered in a clinic or hospital :/. Thanks, and sorry for this wall of text. I tend to ramble, evidently.

P.S. Joined just so I could post on this thread. Been stalking these forums for awhile.

I totally agree with Jared825...you should apply. You have a good GPA and programs like this are made to increase awareness about the importance of medical and public health education (as a country, we need more people in this field and that's what SMDEP is trying to push, especially for minorities because diversity is super important in the health care field). Just try cause if you don't get in you'll be in the same place as if you didn't apply. But I recommend sending things in ASAP, letters and transcripts take foreverrrrr to process. Also, once you send them in, wait a bit and then call and bug them. If I didn't call them everyday before Feb 1 I wouldn't have had my things processed in time to make the deadline, but when I reminded them they updated my page on 2/1. You can have the stats and be a great candidate but timeliness can be your deterrent.

So that was a tangent, lol. Just apply🙂

 

[jbmd15]

Hahahaha you're my hero. I only applied to Yale.

*crickets*

Why only one spot? Where they all closed? If so I'm sorry to hear that, and I will be hoping for your acceptance in between my paranoia attacks!

 

[c0l0redpens]

Why only one spot? Where they all closed? If so I'm sorry to hear that, and I will be hoping for your acceptance in between my paranoia attacks!

No they were all completely open when I applied, I sent in my app around 1/25 and it was completed 2/1. I just really wanted to do it at Yale after doing some research about the campus specific program. I also applied to another pre-health related program at Columbia so I didn't want to apply for SMDEP there.

 

[ya0310793]

You still have chance. Not a great one, but it's a chance!

 

[jbmd15]

No they were all completely open when I applied, I sent in my app around 1/25 and it was completed 2/1. I just really wanted to do it at Yale after doing some research about the campus specific program. I also applied to another pre-health related program at Columbia so I didn't want to apply for SMDEP there.

Oh I see, I thought you had to apply to three programs mandatorily! Good luck to you anyways!

 

[c0l0redpens]

Oh I see, I thought you had to apply to three programs mandatorily! Good luck to you anyways!

Thank you!! Good luck to you as well 🙂 8 dayssss

 

[dawai4u]

Does anyone know how often they update the website, because my schools have been blank

 

[ya0310793]

Does anyone know how often they update the website, because my schools have been blank

Where did you apply?

 

[awsomematt13]

How do you know whether your application is completed or not?

No they were all completely open when I applied, I sent in my app around 1/25 and it was completed 2/1. I just really wanted to do it at Yale after doing some research about the campus specific program. I also applied to another pre-health related program at Columbia so I didn't want to apply for SMDEP there.

 

[jbmd15]

How do you know whether your application is completed or not?

When you have completed all your sections and you pick what sites you want to go to and certify your application and submit it! Then once you're done with that you should be able to click on "view status" on the lower left side of the page and it'll show when your application was completed. Good luck to ya!

 

[dawai4u]

Columbia, Howard & UVA .

 

[Bada Ba Baba]

Where did you apply?

I applied to UCLA, Columbia and UofW. Columbia and LA are in review but UofW has been blank forever!

 

[georgia013]

hey everyone,
im applying for smdep as well. i already submitted my LOR and transcript but i have not submitted the application because i havent written the diversity essay because i am sooo stuck on it. i dont have any volunteering experience and im not even underrepresented but i have a 3.6 gpa and im a sophomore.. any suggestions for the essay??

 

[georgia013]

hey im applying but im stuck on the diversity essay.. i have no volunteering experience.. any suggestions?

 

[Jared825]

Applications officially in review for Columbia and Texas-Houston! So nervous. 😱

 

[ya0310793]

I applied to UCLA, Columbia and UofW. Columbia and LA are in review but UofW has been blank forever!

Columbia application just got in review today! Now just for UVA....

 

[ya0310793]

hey im applying but im stuck on the diversity essay.. i have no volunteering experience.. any suggestions?

I didn't really have too much volunteering experience either, but there is a section that tells you how to approach this essay. What I basically did was incorporated the types of diversity that I've experienced, while talking giving the schools more information about me (information that isn't found in the Personal Comments essay). That's how I did it, and you can do the same, or find another approach that works best for you.

 

[ya0310793]

Also, speaking of essays, how did you all write your personal comments/diversity essays? Do you think they're good enough for the sites you applied to? Reading over my essays now makes me think I could've done better...but eh.

 

[Jared825]

Also, speaking of essays, how did you all write your personal comments/diversity essays? Do you think they're good enough for the sites you applied to? Reading over my essays now makes me think I could've done better...but eh.

I made my personal comments essay really creative and attention grabbing, especially in the introduction, just to catch their attention. I talked about the influences that led me to want to pursue medicine and I kinda previewed the stuff I talked about in the diversity essay. I pretty much used it to show them my character, since all of that stuff can only be displayed to a certain extent in the other portions of the application.

For the diversity essay I wrote about my experiences with diversity and language barriers in healthcare and I proposed how disparities can be avoided. I also added how I wanted to give back to improve these issues and how living in a low socioeconomic region of the US has given me the experience to correctly assess and make informed decisions on the topics they listed on the prompt.

I hope they like them! 👍

 

[ya0310793]

I made my personal comments essay really creative and attention grabbing, especially in the introduction, just to catch their attention. I talked about the influences that led me to want to pursue medicine and I kinda previewed the stuff I talked about in the diversity essay. I pretty much used it to show them my character, since all of that stuff can only be displayed to a certain extent in the other portions of the application.

For the diversity essay I wrote about my experiences with diversity and language barriers in healthcare and I proposed how disparities can be avoided. I also added how I wanted to give back to improve these issues and how living in a low socioeconomic region of the US has given me the experience to correctly assess and make informed decisions on the topics they listed on the prompt.

I hope they like them! 👍

Jared, I think our diversity essays are identical haha! I also wrote about living in a low socioeconomic region (Brownsville and my birthplace), and I also talked about languages and all that jazz. That's incredible.

For my personal essay I just really talked about one particular experience and expanded on that.

It seems to me that this program is highly, highly competitive. But I'm hoping that there are plenty of spots left because I read on one site, that a person submitted their application the day it was opened! Isn't that insane? Also, I read that if you get into a site, they offer you perks like guaranteed interviews for the actual medical school or some edge when you apply to their med school. Just one more reason why I'd like to get in.

I should probably stop checking this thread/my SMDEP App. so much lol.

 

[Jared825]

Jared, I think our diversity essays are identical haha! I also wrote about living in a low socioeconomic region (Brownsville and my birthplace), and I also talked about languages and all that jazz. That's incredible.

For my personal essay I just really talked about one particular experience and expanded on that.

It seems to me that this program is highly, highly competitive. But I'm hoping that there are plenty of spots left because I read on one site, that a person submitted their application the day it was opened! Isn't that insane? Also, I read that if you get into a site, they offer you perks like guaranteed interviews for the actual medical school or some edge when you apply to their med school. Just one more reason why I'd like to get in.

I should probably stop checking this thread/my SMDEP App. so much lol.

I seriously check this and my application at least 5 times a day lol. I'm obsessed. And if I knew which schools actually do that, I would have applied there. But yeah, I have heard that!

I've been hearing that your essays will get you in more than anything, and I had my essays revised and overlooked by English professors, so hopefully they are good enough to earn me a spot!

My order of preference for my sites are Columbia, Texas-Houston, and UMDNJ. But all that matters is if I get into one!

 

[ya0310793]

yeah I heard that about the essays! And same here! I first choice is columbia too! Haha, the similarities!

 

[dawai4u]

review for Columbia 🙂

 

[Jared825]

yeah I heard that about the essays! And same here! I first choice is columbia too! Haha, the similarities!

It would be awesome if we both got into Columbia! 😀

 

[ya0310793]

It would!

 

[Bada Ba Baba]

I made my personal comments essay really creative and attention grabbing, especially in the introduction, just to catch their attention. I talked about the influences that led me to want to pursue medicine and I kinda previewed the stuff I talked about in the diversity essay. I pretty much used it to show them my character, since all of that stuff can only be displayed to a certain extent in the other portions of the application.

For the diversity essay I wrote about my experiences with diversity and language barriers in healthcare and I proposed how disparities can be avoided. I also added how I wanted to give back to improve these issues and how living in a low socioeconomic region of the US has given me the experience to correctly assess and make informed decisions on the topics they listed on the prompt.

I hope they like them! 👍

This is exactly what I wrote about in my essay, lol.

 

[Jared825]

This is exactly what I wrote about in my essay, lol.

Yeah! I think almost everyone is gonna end up writing what we wrote. Which makes it even harder for us to stand out from the crowd. We will be fine though! 👍

I get more nervous by the minute! 😱

 

[Bada Ba Baba]

Yeah! I think almost everyone is gonna end up writing what we wrote. Which makes it even harder for us to stand out from the crowd. We will be fine though! 👍

I get more nervous by the minute! 😱

Me, too! 6 more days!

 

[jbmd15]

Are decisions released exactly on midnight? Can't take more of this waiting..

 

[jbmd15]

Are decisions released exactly on midnight? Can't take more of this waiting..

 

[Jared825]

Are decisions released exactly on midnight? Can't take more of this waiting..

On the forums for previous years, some people said they got their decisions at midnight, but some the morning of the 15th. So I guess it just depends... 😕

 

[jbmd15]

Gracias kind sir

 

[georgia013]

hey everyone. im about to submit my application and i was wonderin what are the most least popular sites? im thinking of applying to those since im already applying late and less competition

 

[georgia013]

I did it at UW if anyone has questions! 🙂

what are the least popular school/sites? im submitting tonight so i am going to pick 2 less popular schools and ucla...

 

[Jared825]

what are the least popular school/sites? im submitting tonight so i am going to pick 2 less popular schools and ucla...

If I'm not mistaken, Nebraska and Louisville are the least popular. I was told this before, but I'm not 100% sure.

 

[georgia013]

If I'm not mistaken, Nebraska and Louisville are the least popular. I was told this before, but I'm not 100% sure.

thats exaclty what i was thinking! thanks for the input. So if i submit tonight im really not gonna find out if i was accepted or not til april 1st? or will they do it earlier 🙁

 

[Jared825]

thats exaclty what i was thinking! thanks for the input. So if i submit tonight im really not gonna find out if i was accepted or not til april 1st? or will they do it earlier 🙁

According to the website and according to what people have been saying, if you submit on or before February 1st, you'll find out on February 15th. If you apply after then, you'll find out on April 1st. Don't back down just because you think your chances are lower. Give it a shot, you never know what will happen!

 

[MkitCAT]

In review for Yale and Case Western 🙂
What does that mean for my third pick (just out of curiosity)?

 

[Bada Ba Baba]

Is anyone else getting directed to a list of Ads when trying to access the website?

 

[nm06003]

Yup I am too^ I wonder whats going on with the site...

I just joined SDN after lurking on this forum for the past few weeks. I submitted my application super late (January 26th) and by the time I sent in my transcripts and one letter of rec I thought I would have to wait until the March decisions, but they completed my application on February 4th with just my transcript (for some reason they havent processed my letter of rec which was sent a bit earlier). My applications are currently in review at Columbia and Yale. So if anybody did apply late like me you might still have a chance for the first round of acceptances/rejections. Am I the only one thats in this position? Lol

 

[ya0310793]

Is anyone else getting directed to a list of Ads when trying to access the website?

Yeah, me too. Maybe there's a problem because of that blizzard of biblical proportions hit the east coast this past weekend.

 

[nwu]

Yup I am too^ I wonder whats going on with the site...

I just joined SDN after lurking on this forum for the past few weeks. I submitted my application super late (January 26th) and by the time I sent in my transcripts and one letter of rec I thought I would have to wait until the March decisions, but they completed my application on February 4th with just my transcript (for some reason they havent processed my letter of rec which was sent a bit earlier). My applications are currently in review at Columbia and Yale. So if anybody did apply late like me you might still have a chance for the first round of acceptances/rejections. Am I the only one thats in this position? Lol

You were processed b/c you were able to postmark your LOR and transcripts by Feb 1st even though they got the letters many days later

 

[georgia013]

You were processed b/c you were able to postmark your LOR and transcripts by Feb 1st even though they got the letters many days later

Do you guys think my application may be reviewed soon even if i dont get a decision till april 1st? I realllly hope i get in 😱