Oklahoma Anyone? part 01

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is it true that sooners want to use our hook em' sign upside-down as their official school sign? i heard a rumor that people tried to petition for it - just wanting to see if any okies actually know

I think that's just a rumor.

 

[ad_sharp]

all i know is OSU is gonna steamroll the big 12 you watch =D.

I've been saying this for a while, but I think that the only team this year that the Sooners have to worry about is OSU. It should be a good one.

 

[OrthoFixation]

OSU is always tough. That in-state rivalry is really strong. When was it, like 2 years ago, that OSU was a spoiler for the OU championship run? OSU has played that role many times. Most of the time, they had nothing to lose and everything to gain. When OSU wins, the fans print up shirts and everything. They go nuts.

 

[ad_sharp]

OSU is always tough. That in-state rivalry is really strong. When was it, like 2 years ago, that OSU was a spoiler for the OU championship run? OSU has played that role many times. Most of the time, they had nothing to lose and everything to gain. When OSU wins, the fans print up shirts and everything. They go nuts.

Yeah, I hope the only game that they lose this year is to OU. It would be great to have two top ten teams in Oklahoma at the end of the season. Sometimes though, I wonder if all of the attention that the OU/Texas game receives takes away from the players' and coachs' focus for the OSU game. I think that a couple of years ago, OSU caught OU while they were too preoccupied with Texas. I'm sure that Stoops will do everything in his power to make sure that it doesn't happen again. If OSU does win, I hope they run the board this year-otherwise they may have screwed us both.

btw, anybody have interview or application questions?

 

[Dr Turninkoff]

Yeah, I hope the only game that they lose this year is to OU. It would be great to have two top ten teams in Oklahoma at the end of the season. Sometimes though, I wonder if all of the attention that the OU/Texas game receives takes away from the players' and coachs' focus for the OSU game. I think that a couple of years ago, OSU caught OU while they were too preoccupied with Texas. I'm sure that Stoops will do everything in his power to make sure that it doesn't happen again. If OSU does win, I hope they run the board this year-otherwise they may have screwed us both.

btw, anybody have interview or application questions?

I know that people have posted the formula for first round interviews before, but do you know what it is? I don't think anyone determined if it was the Cum or BCPM gpa that was factored in. Do you know? I'm running a 3.5bcpm, 3.7cum, and a 32. From your experience with people last year, do you think that will make the first round interview cutoff? Also, how did you personally find your actual interview (stressful, relaxed, etc.)? On a side note, do you know if you can do 3rd/4th year rotations at Mercy Hospital up by the turnpike?

 

[pbehzad]

I know that people have posted the formula for first round interviews before, but do you know what it is? I don't think anyone determined if it was the Cum or BCPM gpa that was factored in. Do you know? I'm running a 3.5bcpm, 3.7cum, and a 32. From your experience with people last year, do you think that will make the first round interview cutoff? Also, how did you personally find your actual interview (stressful, relaxed, etc.)? On a side note, do you know if you can do 3rd/4th year rotations at Mercy Hospital up by the turnpike?

I'm in a similar boat. I'd like to know if I have a good chance at a 1st day/week interview. 3.78 overall from top 20 school, 3.59 bcpm and 31 (8 in verbal though).

Also the Bedlam game is going to be the toughest game of the season for OU. I'm glad to see OSU do well this year and I hope they make it to the top 15 by next week so it boosts OU's quality of opponents. However the outcome will be the same as last year. A complete beat down by Stoops & Co.

 

[ad_sharp]

I know that people have posted the formula for first round interviews before, but do you know what it is? I don't think anyone determined if it was the Cum or BCPM gpa that was factored in. Do you know? I'm running a 3.5bcpm, 3.7cum, and a 32. From your experience with people last year, do you think that will make the first round interview cutoff? Also, how did you personally find your actual interview (stressful, relaxed, etc.)? On a side note, do you know if you can do 3rd/4th year rotations at Mercy Hospital up by the turnpike?

I'm pretty sure that the formula is overall GPA, not bcpm. I haven't seen the rest of the applicant pool, but I'm pretty sure that you'll hit during the first week (probably during the second half of the first week). My interview was great. We talked about hobbies, football, my background, etc. It was very stress free. I was told by many people that OSU's interview would be the easy one, but my interviewers at OU were much more pleasant. However, I do know a couple of people who said that their interviws were pretty rough (although this was a small minority of the interviewees). My best friend who is here with me had a hard time at the interview, but he's here now. Just go in, be honest, and relax. If they ask hard questions, just answer to the best of your ability. You'll probably feel like crap when it's over. I'm always thinking things like, "I should have said something different." Just stick to your guns and don't be wishy washy on any issue. Take a stance and stick with it.

I'm not completely sure about the Mercy hospital thing, but I'm pretty sure that you could do some rotations through there. I would ask Dr. Nancy Hall (assistant dean) at your interview about it. I think that she has a heavy hand in those types of things. Hope that helps.

 

[pbehzad]

I'm pretty sure that the formula is overall GPA, not bcpm. I haven't seen the rest of the applicant pool, but I'm pretty sure that you'll hit during the first week (probably during the second half of the first week). My interview was great. We talked about hobbies, football, my background, etc. It was very stress free. I was told by many people that OSU's interview would be the easy one, but my interviewers at OU were much more pleasant. However, I do know a couple of people who said that their interviws were pretty rough (although this was a small minority of the interviewees). My best friend who is here with me had a hard time at the interview, but he's here now. Just go in, be honest, and relax. If they ask hard questions, just answer to the best of your ability. You'll probably feel like crap when it's over. I'm always thinking things like, "I should have said something different." Just stick to your guns and don't be wishy washy on any issue. Take a stance and stick with it.

I'm not completely sure about the Mercy hospital thing, but I'm pretty sure that you could do some rotations through there. I would ask Dr. Nancy Hall (assistant dean) at your interview about it. I think that she has a heavy hand in those types of things. Hope that helps.

thanks for the info. do you know when you can expect to hear about an interview. i heard that the OU admissions people don't even look at application until nov. 1, so are interview invites sent out around mid november?

thanks again.

 

[Amxcvbcv]

I talked to nancy, OU's pre-med advisor, about interviews this year. The first round will start on November 30th, with four days of interviews (80+ students, she said).

OU does *not* consider applications until after November 1st. To reiterate what's been said before, you'll find out about interviews sometime in the second or third week of November.

I interviewed in the first round last year and received a disappointingly thin envelope from them about 8 days later; it contained my rejection letter.

They'll tell you at the interview that they'll get back to you within a week, which holds true in every case that I've heard about.

Good luck... and hope to see you guys at the interviews and then the following Fall.

 

[maiko82]

I talked to nancy, OU's pre-med advisor, about interviews this year. The first round will start on November 30th, with four days of interviews (80+ students, she said).

OU does *not* consider applications until after November 1st. To reiterate what's been said before, you'll find out about interviews sometime in the second or third week of November.

I interviewed in the first round last year and received a disappointingly thin envelope from them about 8 days later; it contained my rejection letter.

They'll tell you at the interview that they'll get back to you within a week, which holds true in every case that I've heard about.

Good luck... and hope to see you guys at the interviews and then the following Fall.

Good luck to you guys! If you have any questions about OU, maybe I can help. You can PM me if you like.

 

[RachelD]

Hi There, This is my first post on SDN! Woo Hoo!
Anyway, I registered to get in on this OU action. I too am applying this year. I'm a "non-traditional" student and was wondering if some of you OU experts could give me my chances of getting in.
Here are my stats:
Undergrad Business from OU, 1998- 3.1 GPA Overall and 2.70 science (ouch!)
Graduate Master of Health Services Administration from KU 2002 GPA 3.52
Post Bac Undergrad Science GPA 4.00 (only 9 hours so far)
MCAT 27N- 11 V 8 P 8 B
I have two years of health care work experience (not clinical- administrative in nature-Assistant Director of HIPAA Compliance at KU Med Center (1 year) and Administrator at Brain Imaging Center at KU Med (1 year).- Quit my job to prepare for Med School ( moved to back to OK last Spring)
I think I have a good chance of getting an interview. Any idea when? OU is the only school I'm applying to.
P.S. My husband want's me to get in JUST for the OU student football tickets!!! We better kick some butt on Sat. We went to the Big 12 last year, so sad!! Damn those WildCats!!

 

[ad_sharp]

Hi There, This is my first post on SDN! Woo Hoo!
Anyway, I registered to get in on this OU action. I too am applying this year. I'm a "non-traditional" student and was wondering if some of you OU experts could give me my chances of getting in.
Here are my stats:
Undergrad Business from OU, 1998- 3.1 GPA Overall and 2.70 science (ouch!)
Graduate Master of Health Services Administration from KU 2002 GPA 3.52
Post Bac Undergrad Science GPA 4.00 (only 9 hours so far)
MCAT 27N- 11 V 8 P 8 B
I have two years of health care work experience (not clinical- administrative in nature-Assistant Director of HIPAA Compliance at KU Med Center (1 year) and Administrator at Brain Imaging Center at KU Med (1 year).- Quit my job to prepare for Med School ( moved to back to OK last Spring)
I think I have a good chance of getting an interview. Any idea when? OU is the only school I'm applying to.
P.S. My husband want's me to get in JUST for the OU student football tickets!!! We better kick some butt on Sat. We went to the Big 12 last year, so sad!! Damn those WildCats!!

Your experience looks great, and your MCAT looks alright. I'm not trying to be critical, but is there a reason for your undergrad GPA being so low? I just think that it will help if you have a good explanation in hand for the interview. However, the adcom will admire your persistance with the post bac and your committment to put your life on hold to pursue a career in medicine. Additionally, don't worry at all about being a non-trad. I'm somewhat nontrad in respect to my being married. There are several people in our class at or near their thirties and a couple in their forties. Many have kiddos at home. You seem to have committed yourself to your studies, but I think that your biggest problem is only having nine hours on your post bac. If you are enrolled this semester, and have good grades at the time of interview, I might even recommend that you advertise them to your interviewers. Definately, send an update at the end of the semester. Also make sure to research the school well and emphasize to the interviewers that OU is your one and only choice (so much so that it's the only place that you applied)-they will be more likely to admire you for putting it all on the line for one school. I probaly could have gone to most of the schools in Texas but, I only applied to two schools and I think that it definately worked to my advantage in the interviews. Good luck with your app process and don't be discouraged if it doesn't happen this year. I know of several folks who applied 3+ times before getting the nod. Be confident, you'll do just fine.

 

[freesolo]

hey Amxcvbcv did they tell you whats wrong with your application after the rejection letter?
my freind told me he had a bunch of ethics questions that were toughies; but other than that they wanted to know him. He said he was stuck in a really really small room with the 3 of them 😀. Of course our OSU premed committee here has been notorious for their interviews. An hour long of nitpicking is what i've heard from some, suppose to get you prepared for the real thing, they go overboard a little though 😀.

 

[ad_sharp]

hey Amxcvbcv did they tell you whats wrong with your application after the rejection letter?
my freind told me he had a bunch of ethics questions that were toughies; but other than that they wanted to know him. He said he was stuck in a really really small room with the 3 of them 😀. Of course our OSU premed committee here has been notorious for their interviews. An hour long of nitpicking is what i've heard from some, suppose to get you prepared for the real thing, they go overboard a little though 😀.

Yeah, my premed committee ripped my a new one during my mock interview. They won't write your letter of rec if you don't do it. My two med school interviews were completely different. OSU was full of ethics and all that mess and my OU interview was so laid back it was like hangin with the homies at the quickie mart. I expected the total opposite. My DO interviewer was a real jerk (Dr. Beck or something). If you applied OSU, I hope you don't get him. 🙂

 

[DMBFan61]

so ad, how is your first year going?

 

[Amxcvbcv]

hey Amxcvbcv did they tell you whats wrong with your application after the rejection letter?
my freind told me he had a bunch of ethics questions that were toughies; but other than that they wanted to know him. He said he was stuck in a really really small room with the 3 of them 😀. Of course our OSU premed committee here has been notorious for their interviews. An hour long of nitpicking is what i've heard from some, suppose to get you prepared for the real thing, they go overboard a little though 😀.

OU hosts a reapplicant's workshop in April for people who are rejected, and I got lots of good feedback from it. According to the committee there I was rejected for three main reasons.

1) Lack of significant clinical/volunteer experience.
2) I didn't adequately explain my relatively low GPA compared to my relatively high MCAT
3) I didn't properly articulate and explain why I wanted to be a doctor; I also said I wanted to be a radiologist yet I had no significant experience with a radiologist.

According to the staff at the reapplicant's workshop if I improve on those things they will have no good reason to deny my application again, unless the applicant pool is significantly stronger this year.

As far as the inadequacies are concerned, I am currently volunteering at Canadian Valley Regional Hospital in Yukon, in the radiology department. I have been working there since mid-August and currently have around 75 hours under my belt with no plans to quit until matriculation. I left out several significant details regarding my undergraduate career that profoundly affected my grades, which I will discuss if they want to hear them (I sincerely despise making excuses for myself, but it's hard to deny the effects that divorce and suicide can have on a person). I also have completely rethought why I want to be a doctor and feel much more comfortable discussing it with people. I believe that in the interview last year I tried too hard to be unique instead of being myself when they asked why I wanted to be a doctor, and I came across as insincere and uncomfortable.


That's pretty much the gist of it.

If you have any other questions, let me know. 🙂

Sorry for not responding to your PM, by the way; I have been pretty distracted as of late with real world issues.

 

[oudoc08]

Hi Guys!
It's been a LONG time since I've posted anything on SDN. I'm in the same mod as Ad_Sharp and lovin' the first year.

I thought it would be nice to let you guys in on a few pieces of info that I would've liked to hear about this time last year. (Nobody from the class above was posting in our pre-OU forum)

1. In biochem, the level of detail is NOT as in depth as that of a typical undergrad biochem class. However, because the class is combined with med. molecular genetics, and has a significant clinical correlative component, there is a lot more material covered. For example, when I took biochem in undergrad, my printed syllabus for the semester was apx.1.5" thick. Now the syllabus barely fits in a 4" binder.

2. Conversely, in anatomy, the level of detail expected is MUCH MORE detailed than any undergrad anatomy class I've ever heard of. However, don't go into panic mode thinking that you have to remember that Levator scapulae originates from C1-C4 or C1-C5 (details which I did attempt to memorize in my first days, only later to find that FUNCTION is more important). Thus you need to understand roughly where the muscle originates and roughly where it inserts in order to understand what it does. As well, you'll need to know what nerve innervates it, what artery supplies it, and what loss of the action could mean in terms of nervous insult. Basically, it's not as bad as it sounds, but you'll need to find your own groove as to what works for you.

3. Don't go buy a bunch of books. Seriously. Don't. Please don't. Save your money. You will need a few basics, but between the syllabus, online resources through Hippocrates (the online med student resource at OU), and notegroups, textbooks are pretty much a last resource, and one that you will likely end up not having time to look at anyway. Trust me, I bought a bunch of review books such as 1st aid, etc. While those little review books are great, you don't really need them yet, and you'll have plenty of time in 1st year to figure out what you do need w/o wasting a bunch of $$$. Also, it sucks to buy a book early and then find that a new ed. is coming out (I did this w/ Lippincott biochem).

4. So what books do you need for sure?
a. Netters (BUY IT. Do NOT fall for the AMSA scam (see my next note)
b. Chungs Gross Anatomy. If you don't already know, Dr. Chung is the course director of anatomy at OU, and while it the book isn't on their list, you would do well to buy it, as the tests are written out of information contained within his book.

5. What books would be fairly helpful but not absolutely necessary?
a. Lippincott biochem 3rd ed.
b. Langmans med. embryology (though its 50.00, and the syllabus and notegroups should suffice, so I say get it if you have money to burn)

6. What books are an absolute waste of money (in which case, you should just write me a check instead)
a. The psych book (I forget what its called, cuz I bought it off a 2nd year, and haven't looked at it since)

7. What's up with the AMSA thing?
Ok, so here's the deal. AMSA is basically a covert mouthpiece for the severely left-wing. To fund this little bastard child, they deceptively lure the incoming medical students into joining by offering a "free" Netters atlas for the price of membership, which I believe is $75.00. This is the same price as going and buying the book at the bookstore. The wide-eyed med. student, eager to get into any medical club, group, etc., jumps at this opportunity without any information whatsoever as to what exactly AMSA is. American Medical Student Association sounds innocent enough, but folks, once you've paid your money, you're in for four years, and you've just helped to finance a liberal political organization. Now if you're a Kerry-loving dem., that may be fine with you, but I don't feel it's fair to those who aren't, to trick them into joining and supporting an organization that is not forthcoming about their agenda.

8. Let's see what else. Oh, yes. Remember guys, everybody likes to make their situation out to be perhaps a little worse than it really is. Truth be told, I really like med school. I spend more time studying that I thought I would, but it's relatively enjoyable, because I'm not out measuring tree sizes on the side of some stupid hill, or counting crayfish in some stupid stream, or working some idiotic regression equation. (As you can tell, my fav. class was ecology).
I'd say on average I spend around 4-5 hours/weekday of actual face in the book studying. Sounds like a lot, and I when I was in your shoes, I thought people were BS'ing about that, but its true. I really don't study much on the weekends, catchup mostly, or before test block, but other than that I try to spend time w/ my two kids. The key is that the material is fairly interesting, so 4-5 hours of learning about muscles, nerves, etc. is a lot more tolerable than 4-5 hours of english comp or organic. You may not have to study that much, or maybe you'll need more. Alot depends on whether or not you just want to pass or whether you want to smoke it. I fall in the latter category, and so I spend more time on the details.

9. Lastly, don't worry about what other people are doing. But you will. Ad_Sharp, myself, and probably everybody else in our class have counted the A's, B's, etc. and tried to rank ourselfs. It's the personality type. Medical schools like to pride themselves on diversity, but truth be told, I've never seen a more homogenouse group of people than those who I share a lecture hall with every day. Black, white, asian, middle eastern, male, female, fat, skinny, liberal, conservative, republican., democrat, etc. etc. etc. It doesn't matter. No matter how they try to diversify, it's hard to shake the fact that the people around you are bright, goal oriented, and eerily similar in their mentality. (Perhaps not so politically, but at least personality wise).

As far as tips on how to get in, I'm going to refrain because they run the gamut on this board. Many are rumor, most are heresay with a few shreds of truth, and the majority are recapitulated from years past.

I'm a student ambassador, and hopefully will be at at least some of the interview sessions. I hope to see all of you there. Good luck and God Bless.

Tony Spatz

 

[Amxcvbcv]

Nice post, Tony. 👍

I hope I see you in December. 😀 ...and in August next year. 😛

 

[RachelD]

Your experience looks great, and your MCAT looks alright. I'm not trying to be critical, but is there a reason for your undergrad GPA being so low? I just think that it will help if you have a good explanation in hand for the interview. However, the adcom will admire your persistance with the post bac and your committment to put your life on hold to pursue a career in medicine. Additionally, don't worry at all about being a non-trad. I'm somewhat nontrad in respect to my being married. There are several people in our class at or near their thirties and a couple in their forties. Many have kiddos at home. You seem to have committed yourself to your studies, but I think that your biggest problem is only having nine hours on your post bac. If you are enrolled this semester, and have good grades at the time of interview, I might even recommend that you advertise them to your interviewers. Definately, send an update at the end of the semester. Also make sure to research the school well and emphasize to the interviewers that OU is your one and only choice (so much so that it's the only place that you applied)-they will be more likely to admire you for putting it all on the line for one school. I probaly could have gone to most of the schools in Texas but, I only applied to two schools and I think that it definately worked to my advantage in the interviews. Good luck with your app process and don't be discouraged if it doesn't happen this year. I know of several folks who applied 3+ times before getting the nod. Be confident, you'll do just fine.

Thanks for the reply. I wish I had a good excuse for my undergrad GPA. I don't. I was not focused or committed. I grew up in a pretty strict military family and went a little crazy when I got on my own. 🙁
I'm a little worried now that I looked at your stats and you said that you did not get in the first time. When did you interviw?
Do you think my graduate degree will help? I guess all I can do now is prepare for the interview (if I get one) and have answers for the tough question about GPA.
Thanks!

 

[Amxcvbcv]

In my opinion a low GPA only becomes a liability if there's a downward trend to it.

From what I can tell, you have improved academically since then, so they should look favorably upon you.

If anything, I think it shows maturity. 🙂

 

[oudoc08]

Nice post, Tony. 👍

I hope I see you in December. 😀 ...and in August next year. 😛

Thanks.
BTW, I reviewed your mdapplicants profile. Looks like somebody who shouldn't have a hard time getting in, as far as numbers goes. Smoke that interview, and you'll be here. I too was fairly committed to to regional schools and didn't see much use in firing 30 applications to schools I'd never even heard of. I figured it would be smarter to apply to only schools I would actually want to attend, and then to concentrate my efforts heavily rather spread it thin. In addition, being married w/ kids causes one to have to do a little prioritizing, though in reflection, those decisions were some of my wiser.
Later
Tony

 

[freesolo]

are their any merit scholarships at OU? How do you apply to those? I know im not getting one just wondering =p.

 

[ad_sharp]

Thanks for the reply. I wish I had a good excuse for my undergrad GPA. I don't. I was not focused or committed. I grew up in a pretty strict military family and went a little crazy when I got on my own. 🙁
I'm a little worried now that I looked at your stats and you said that you did not get in the first time. When did you interviw?
Do you think my graduate degree will help? I guess all I can do now is prepare for the interview (if I get one) and have answers for the tough question about GPA.
Thanks!

I think that your upward trend will help you. The adcom understands that people can change. I think that the only potential issue is that you are only 9 hrs into your current program. That's why I say to keep your head up, even if it doesn't happen this year, you'll be in very good shape next year if you maintain the status quo.

Don't compare your stats to anybody else. I only applied once, and I interviewed early. I know of several who didn't get in the first time, many who interviewed early and weren't accepted, and many who interviewed late and were accepted. One guy up here was accepted at OSU, found out that he got into OU and moved a month after moving to Tulsa to OKC during the middle of summer. Additionally, your undergrad career won't amount to a steamy pile of crap after med school starts. We're all starting out on a level playing field. Just try to be positive.

 

[ad_sharp]

are their any merit scholarships at OU? How do you apply to those? I know im not getting one just wondering =p.

Yup, and there are poor people scholarships that about half the class receives (including myself). Those amount to about 2-3 K a semester. You don't have to apply. It's based on FAFSA and your app. They've already got everything that they need to know about you in hand.

 

[maiko82]

Yup, and there are poor people scholarships that about half the class receives (including myself). Those amount to about 2-3 K a semester. You don't have to apply. It's based on FAFSA and your app. They've already got everything that they need to know about you in hand.

Also, there's a short application form online that you fill out during the summer. I think that's how I got my scholarship, because I didn't know about the FAFSA thing. Not much, but definitely better than paying for those books on your own.

 

[ad_sharp]

Also, there's a short application form online that you fill out during the summer. I think that's how I got my scholarship, because I didn't know about the FAFSA thing. Not much, but definitely better than paying for those books on your own.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that thing. They'll send you a letter in the mail after you're accepted telling you to fill out this little form on the website. Takes about thirty minutes. No big deal. Thanks for the correction.

 

[RachelD]

Did everyone applying to OU get the e-mail today? Wondering if there was any screening.

"We have received preliminary information from AMCAS indicating your interest in The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Receipt of this email does not mean your AMCAS application is complete. Please continue to monitor your application status with AMCAS.

Attached is our request for supplemental information. This information must be in our office by November 1st to be considered for an interview. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Dotty

Dotty Shaw Killam
Director of Admissions
The University of Oklahoma
College of Medicine

<<2005 Request.doc>> "

 

[MechE]

Did everyone applying to OU get the e-mail today? Wondering if there was any screening.

"We have received preliminary information from AMCAS indicating your interest in The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Receipt of this email does not mean your AMCAS application is complete. Please continue to monitor your application status with AMCAS.

Attached is our request for supplemental information. This information must be in our office by November 1st to be considered for an interview. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Dotty

Dotty Shaw Killam
Director of Admissions
The University of Oklahoma
College of Medicine

<<2005 Request.doc>> "

I think I got this email awhile back. Sometime after I sent my AMCAS.

 

[als12179]

Hey,
I'm another okie applying to OU this year. I was just wondering if anyone else received any letters or emails from other schools inviting them to apply. I received some and was just wondering if that is a common thing or not.

 

[Amxcvbcv]

Did everyone applying to OU get the e-mail today? Wondering if there was any screening.

"We have received preliminary information from AMCAS indicating your interest in The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Receipt of this email does not mean your AMCAS application is complete. Please continue to monitor your application status with AMCAS.

Attached is our request for supplemental information. This information must be in our office by November 1st to be considered for an interview. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Dotty

Dotty Shaw Killam
Director of Admissions
The University of Oklahoma
College of Medicine

<<2005 Request.doc>> "

I'm pretty sure there's no screening involved in who gets a secondary from OU, as long as you meet their minimum standards for GPA and MCAT - so I guess there's a little screening, but who would apply with a sub 7.0 MCAT or a sub 3.0 GPA? 😛

For what it's worth I got that e-mail back in August; it's sent once you submit your AMCAS.

 

[ad_sharp]

Hey,
I'm another okie applying to OU this year. I was just wondering if anyone else received any letters or emails from other schools inviting them to apply. I received some and was just wondering if that is a common thing or not.

I don't remember getting anything, but that doesn't mean that I didn't. You should hear about your interview by this time next month. Just go and enjoy the remander of your life before med school. Our second exam bock is the week after next and everything is a little crazy right now with the five billion mechanisms to know for biochem and all. Should turn out alright though.....gotta love that metabolism shizzle.

 

[oudoc08]

I don't remember getting anything, but that doesn't mean that I didn't. You should hear about your interview by this time next month. Just go and enjoy the remander of your life before med school. Our second exam bock is the week after next and everything is a little crazy right now with the five billion mechanisms to know for biochem and all. Should turn out alright though.....gotta love that metabolism shizzle.

You know you love it.

"Ohh 3-phosphohydropyruvate, Ohhhhhh Galactose 1-phosphate uridyltransferase, Ohhhhh delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase You're sooooo beautiful. mmmmmmmmm......

***ADAM*** WAKE UP ***ADAM*** YOU'RE TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP AGAIN!

 

[ad_sharp]

You know you love it.

"Ohh 3-phosphohydropyruvate, Ohhhhhh Galactose 1-phosphate uridyltransferase, Ohhhhh delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase You're sooooo beautiful. mmmmmmmmm......

***ADAM*** WAKE UP ***ADAM*** YOU'RE TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP AGAIN!

Oh, how I wish that wasn't the truth

 

[freesolo]

ill be at OU for a tour with my amsa chapter nov 8th, OUdoc going to be taking us on a tour? 😀 im looking forward to it, havent been up their before.

 

[ad_sharp]

ill be at OU for a tour with my amsa chapter nov 8th, OUdoc going to be taking us on a tour? 😀 im looking forward to it, havent been up their before.

I'm also on the student ambassador committee thingy, so I'll probably see you on the 8th. You can come and chill with the homies at our mod. (oudoc and I are in the same mod) The mods are really great-one of the best reasons to go here.

 

[DMBFan61]

hey ad, how much time outside of class do you spend, on average, studying each evening?

 

[ad_sharp]

hey ad, how much time outside of class do you spend, on average, studying each evening?

5-6hrs.

 

[DMBFan61]

5-6hrs.

damn dude, how do you aviod becoming burned out?

 

[Napoleon1801]

Any of you first year guys have any recommendations for the interviews, common questions, or just some inspiring thoughts? I interviewed last year and found myself a stuttering fool at some junctures, because I just wasn't prepared with a good answer. I'm not alluding towards having a canned response, but more of a general idea on what to say towards "How would you change healthcare?" or "What specifically will you be doing in 10 yrs from now?" I of course feel better about these questions now that I've had a nice long year to ponder them, but they're still a source of anxiety.

On another note, what all sorts of volunteer/med experience did you have when you interviewed? When I went to the reapplicant seminar, I was told by a Dr. Conigleone that I shouldn't do EMT, regardless of the fact that its quite difficult to get any real "patient interaction"(as it probably should be if you aren't qualified!) unless you're certified in some skill. I was puzzled by what he said, although I did decide to do EMT this fall since I'd heard pretty good things out of the people who had taken it. I'm considering trying to volunteer at Cleveland County Health as well (even though I'm at 20 class hours! 😱 ). So the hospital/patient interaction portion of all this is freaking me out since it was something that was pointed out as a weakness.

So in epilogue, I feel as if I'm dealing with a very testy woman who's giving me a bunch of mixed signals, lol. Any insight you guys might have is duly appreciated 👍 😀 👍

 

[ad_sharp]

damn dude, how do you aviod becoming burned out?

I'm fairly typical for the class. I probably study a little more than most but not much more. My average study schedule is as follows:
Monday: 3.5-4hrs
Tuesday: 7-8 hrs
Wednesday: 4-5 hrs
Thurs: 10-12 hrs
Friday: 1 hr (maybe)-This is the night when my wife and I go out.
Saturday: 8-10
Sunday: 8-10
total: 41.5-49 hrs/wk

The initial shock of med school is enough to make you want to curl into the fetal position and cry, but after that, you build up a tolerance for it. And sex, sex is good. You just do little things like spending a little time with your wife or friends on the telephone between studying. Having a good distraction like Unreal Tournament or SDN also helps. It's like weight-lifting, you just get better at managing it with practice. They tell you that med school is tough, and they ain't joking. Your mod mates are in the same boat and everyone here is really good about studying together and trying to make it as easy as possible.

 

[ad_sharp]

Any of you first year guys have any recommendations for the interviews, common questions, or just some inspiring thoughts? I interviewed last year and found myself a stuttering fool at some junctures, because I just wasn't prepared with a good answer. I'm not alluding towards having a canned response, but more of a general idea on what to say towards "How would you change healthcare?" or "What specifically will you be doing in 10 yrs from now?" I of course feel better about these questions now that I've had a nice long year to ponder them, but they're still a source of anxiety.

On another note, what all sorts of volunteer/med experience did you have when you interviewed? When I went to the reapplicant seminar, I was told by a Dr. Conigleone that I shouldn't do EMT, regardless of the fact that its quite difficult to get any real "patient interaction"(as it probably should be if you aren't qualified!) unless you're certified in some skill. I was puzzled by what he said, although I did decide to do EMT this fall since I'd heard pretty good things out of the people who had taken it. I'm considering trying to volunteer at Cleveland County Health as well (even though I'm at 20 class hours! 😱 ). So the hospital/patient interaction portion of all this is freaking me out since it was something that was pointed out as a weakness.

So in epilogue, I feel as if I'm dealing with a very testy woman who's giving me a bunch of mixed signals, lol. Any insight you guys might have is duly appreciated 👍 😀 👍

Well, I know it isn't easy, but my first line of advice is to relax. The people interviewing you are just people. There are no right or wrong answers so long as you are honest and truthful.

You would do well to read through interview feedback here and some old threads about socialized medicine, malpractice, insurance, practice rights, stem cell, abortion, etc. Try you best to tie your answers back into your personal statement. This will bolster what you've already said and give you greater credibility than the PS will alone. Bottom line: just be honest and stick by your statements.

As far as experience goes my creditionals were as follows (but they don't matter once you're here, even though you're worried about them now)

22 yrs old
White
Married for 2.5 yrs
Southeastern Ok St Univ-SCL
4.0 GPA 142 hrs
MCAT: 32P, 10PS, 12BS, 10V
Major: Biological Health Sciences (46 hrs)
Minor: Chemistry (35 hrs)
President of Honors program 1 yr
VP Honors program 1 yr
Honor program grad (4 yr member)
President of Alpha Chi 1 yr
VP Alpha Chi 1 yr
Immunology TA
Microbiology TA
Human Anatomy TA (and dissection of two cadavers)
General Bio TA
Roughly 500 hrs of shadowing
Summer research at Dean McGee Eye Institute here at OU
About a year working as a Nurse's aide in a nursing home in Durant, OK
-spent most of my interview talking about this
Three years working at a Vet office

That's the major stuff. Don't worry too much about all of this. I know people with higher stats than mine that got flat out rejected and I know people with much lower who are whooping some arse up here. It's all about you personally, thats' why they do the interview. Just keep your head up, and sleep at least thirty minutes the night before. 🙂

 

[als12179]

I've got some questions for you guys in med school already. What is the financial situation like? Is the financial aid package adequate, or is just enough to scrape by? And is the school helpful in getting students hooked up with summer research or clinical opportunities? And what about housing? Was it easy to find affordable housing near the campus thats pretty decent?
Thanks

 

[oudoc08]

Any of you first year guys have any recommendations for the interviews, common questions, or just some inspiring thoughts? I interviewed last year and found myself a stuttering fool at some junctures, because I just wasn't prepared with a good answer. I'm not alluding towards having a canned response, but more of a general idea on what to say towards "How would you change healthcare?" or "What specifically will you be doing in 10 yrs from now?" I of course feel better about these questions now that I've had a nice long year to ponder them, but they're still a source of anxiety.

On another note, what all sorts of volunteer/med experience did you have when you interviewed? When I went to the reapplicant seminar, I was told by a Dr. Conigleone that I shouldn't do EMT, regardless of the fact that its quite difficult to get any real "patient interaction"(as it probably should be if you aren't qualified!) unless you're certified in some skill. I was puzzled by what he said, although I did decide to do EMT this fall since I'd heard pretty good things out of the people who had taken it. I'm considering trying to volunteer at Cleveland County Health as well (even though I'm at 20 class hours! 😱 ). So the hospital/patient interaction portion of all this is freaking me out since it was something that was pointed out as a weakness.

So in epilogue, I feel as if I'm dealing with a very testy woman who's giving me a bunch of mixed signals, lol. Any insight you guys might have is duly appreciated 👍 😀 👍

My only interview advice is NOT supply the canned response. (i.e. - Q: "Why do you want to practice medicine" A:"Because I want to help people")
Of course we've all heard that example a million times, but it applies to ALL the questions they would ask. Be honest and don't try to tell them what you THINK they want to hear. They've already heard that. Be unique. Of course, I wouldn't recommend telling them the only reason you want to be a doctor is for the change and the chicks, but I don't see anything wrong with telling them that you want a career that pays you well for doing something you love. Don't be afraid to mention money. It's okay. Really. The three people that will be interviewing you like money too. They're people also, and they're going to think you're not being honest if you starting spewing too much altruistic crap. When I interviewed at OU, I had already been accepted (and planned on attending) other schools. I really wasn't considering OU, and so my interview basically turned around and I made THEM sell me the school. I didn't try to come off as arrogant, haughty or disinterested, but rather as someone who was wanted to be happy with their med school of choice. As such, I had a great interview. I basically answered their questions honestly (which was at times in frank opposition to many of the answers I'm relatively sure they had heard), and then had a chance to ask them the key questions such as "I have already been accepted to, and am currently planning on attending school X. Though there are things that I like better about OU, there are also things I don't. Please explain to me why I have a greater potential at this school vs. school X."
Again, it is key to not come across as a smartass, but rather as a informed consumer. It is YOUR education guys. YOU are the one who is paying out the wazoo to be there. YOU are the one that has to be there for 4 years. Be a little discriminatory for pete's sake. If someone told you that you had to eat a poop hot dog (Is that thread still floating around on SDN?) to get into OU, I'd say tell them to stick it. Tell them that you're better than that, and that you're now above such BS. The same goes for the realities of med school admission. Your maturity and professionalism will get you through this as well as med school. Part of that means realizing that the medical school wants qualified applicants as much or more than the applicant wants the med school. So sit back, relax, and shoot straight. Don't suck up, don't be a whiny kiss-ass, don't say "I'll do anything if you'll let me in", etc. It's a mutual agreement. As they told us in orientation, "You're here because you deserve to be here". If you feel you deserve to be in med school and have worked hard to go, then don't worry, you'll get in. If you feel you still have much to accomplish, then they'll probably agree with you.

In response to the second part of your question, I was a paramedic for 7 years prior to starting med school. It is my honest opinion that it was extremely valuable for not only experience, but also confirming that medicine was what was right for me. However, becoming an EMT basic for the sole purpose of bumping up your app. would in my opinion be a complete waste of time. The reason is that it is such a relatively short time commitment, and your interaction with patient care and medicine in general, is miniscule. The majority of the time, the job description of an EMT-basic is that of a driver, and a paramedic helper. Sure, the job is vital. Having a good EMT partner is one of the main differences between a call gone right and a call gone wrong for a paramedic. BUT, in the context of medical experience, there is a vast difference in the EMT and the paramedic. Less so, in the dwindling number of smaller communities where there is not a paramedic or EMT-I on the truck, where the EMT-B gets to provide primary care to the patient. However, the simple fact is, from a med school admission committee's perspective, having an EMT-B which took a couple of nights a week for a few months to get, isn't going to sway many decisions. However, becoming a paramedic, which can essentially become a full-time job for a couple of years, and is more in line with someone who chose to make some serious sacrifices for their career, shows them that that individual is likely to put forth the same effort in medical school. So my advice, if you don't have the time to do the paramedic program, is to find something else. Volunteer at an MDA camp, do some serious shadowing, go on some medical missions trips, whatever. (BTW, I'm sure I pissed off some EMT's, but I'm not here to make friends, I'm here to help you get into medical school.)

 

[oudoc08]

damn dude, how do you aviod becoming burned out?

You didn't ask me, but I'll chime in anyway. It's because even though it's biochem, it's MEDICAL biochem. It's because it's Anatomy and embryology. Finally, these are things that are pertinent to what we want to do. That much studying of ecology, evolution or calculus, and I would have a hard time not being a walking zombie. But I can study anatomy for hours because it's pertinent to what I love.

 

[oudoc08]

hey ad, how much time outside of class do you spend, on average, studying each evening?

All right I bored and need a break, so, here's another unsolicited chime from me.

It's honestly hard to say how much time I study each day, because each day is different. We rotate anatomy dissecting groups (MWF) so if I dissect monday, I don't dissect wednesday, and then I dissect again on Friday, so the next monday, that would rotate, thus I would only be dissecting one time (wednesday) that week. Besides that, most of the time, class starts monday-friday at 8:00, though sometimes at 9:00 or 10:00. We get 12-1 for lunch, and then on MWF, anatomy lecture for an hour in the afternoons. I have tuesday afternoons off and have a 4 hour clinical rotation for an ortho surgeon on Thursday afternoon until 5p. On weekends, I drive back to Muskogee to be with my wife and kids. Sometimes I study while they're taking naps or in the evening, sometimes I don't.
Most of the time during the week that I'm not in class, I'm studying, though I take frequent breaks to eat, watch a little TV, work out, or whatever.
Often times, I don't go to certain classes such as human behavior or biochem, opting instead to study independently during those times. It just depends. I'd say the best way to calculate how much time you'll be looking at books is to follow the old adage of 2 hours outside of class for every hour of class. In undergrad, for most people smart enough to go to med school, that was crap. I studied a little bit during the week or weekend, and crammed before tests. YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT DO THAT IN MED SCHOOL!!! I as well as most other people didn't have a hard time figuring that out, but it is absolutely imperative that you know and understand that before coming here. You do not have to throw your outside life away, actually it's vital that you don't, but you will have to make some adjustments, especially if married or have kids. I actually have to plan stupid things now like going to the grocery store or wal-mart. (I can go Fri afternoon if I hurry, but then I have to get back to look at anatomy, cuz I have to do biochem tomorrow night).
So back to the 2:1 hours thing. If you want to do well, that's about what most require. It's hard to figure exactly, but they say med school is around 25 or 26 hours, so you will need to put in around 50 hours extra in studying of some kind, whether in books, or online. How you want to break it up is up to you. (Study at lunch everyday to take care of a few hours). The key is learning to be efficient with your time. It's not that hard, you just have to figure out what works good for you. I will say that it isn't as bad as it sounds. The only thing I've had to give up (other than moving away from my family during the week) is XBOX games. I have one but haven't turned it on since I got here. Other than that, studying just becomes your job. Think of it that way, and it isn't so bad. Besides, like I said before, you are studying things that interest you. Which brings up another point, if you aren't truly interested in medicine (for whatever reason, maybe you just want to have a big house and $$$ cars, or daddy wants you to be a doctor), YOU'LL HATE IT. (I want a big house too, but I don't want to do anything else to get it.) I can't imagine learning the brachial plexus, or dissecting the perineum (no fun no matter what), unless being a doctor was absolutely the only thing I could ever imagine doing. If you don't feel the same way, I implore you to put off this whole process until you do. Although, I can honestly say that in response to the question of "Would you still be a doctor if it only paid 50,000 a year", I would say that no in fact, I wouldn't. I would WANT to be a doctor, but I couldn't afford it. I couldn't afford the cost of the education, I couldn't afford the cost of having to deal with money shortages for the rest of my life, and most importantly, I couldn't deal with the fact of being underappreciated. Taking a huge chunk out of your life, as well as the over and beyond sacrifices which must be made, deserves to be highly compensated. Those of you who think differently, I will in fact add to the cost of my living by buying you a one-way bus ticket to Canada, where you are more than welcome to be a poorly paid government slave. Just keep your liberal socialistic crap out of my part of the world.

Sorry for the long posts. Just got done watching a bunch of anatomy videos and now I'm going home for the evening to dive into biochem. (Its starting to suck)

 

[ad_sharp]

I've got some questions for you guys in med school already. What is the financial situation like? Is the financial aid package adequate, or is just enough to scrape by? And is the school helpful in getting students hooked up with summer research or clinical opportunities? And what about housing? Was it easy to find affordable housing near the campus thats pretty decent?
Thanks

Mine is actually really good. I about starved to death in undergrad (as my wife and I were both students). Now, my wife works as a school teacher and brings home some money. Additionally, you have access to about 21K a year in loans on top of your tuition amount if you want it. Be mindful that all of it has to be paid back.

I live about five miles from campus and my apts are nice and pretty affordable. There is also housing on campus that's really nice, but it's kinda expensive (although its really convienient).

 

[oudoc08]

ill be at OU for a tour with my amsa chapter nov 8th, OUdoc going to be taking us on a tour? 😀 im looking forward to it, havent been up their before.

We have class from 10-12 (biochem) and 1-2:30p (anatomy) on Mon. Nov. 8th. A very easy short day. Ad_sharp has lab that afternoon, but I do not. If you would like to do a tour that afternoon at around 2:30p, I would be happy to show you guys around the school if you don't already have something set up. Or if you would like, I'm sure you could sit in on a lecture. Anatomy is probably more interesting, but if you have a big group, it wouldn't be feasible. Since we have a audience response system for anatomy for which we can earn points, almost everybody comes to those lectures, thus there just isn't physically room. However, if there is not that many of you, (<10 or so), then you could probably find room. If you have a bigger group, then the biochem lecture would probably be better. If you would want to do a tour in the afternoon, I would need to leave you for a few minutes to go to anatomy lab since the group the did the last dissection has to explain what was done to the incoming lab group. Visitors usually aren't allowed in the lab, but as you are an established group, there may be an exception, I don't know. This is my schedule and I would be glad to host your visit, but you do need to contact the deans office at (405) 271-2265) in order to ok the class thing and to see about touring the anatomy lab while the bodies are up. Hopefully, we'll get to see you on the tour as well as in a future class.
Good Luck
Tony Spatz

 

[oudoc08]

I've got some questions for you guys in med school already. What is the financial situation like? Is the financial aid package adequate, or is just enough to scrape by? And is the school helpful in getting students hooked up with summer research or clinical opportunities? And what about housing? Was it easy to find affordable housing near the campus thats pretty decent?
Thanks

My financial package is fine. My wife's a pharmacist, but while we've been living apart for school, we keep separate checking accounts, and I pay rent, food, utilities, tuition, and everything else out of that. You can borrow up to 38 grand/year in sub./unsub. stafford loans and tuition/books take up about 18 or 19 thousand of that. I have a 2bdrm apt. in Edmond, but I did live in the apts. by the school for a month until my roommate bailed on me. They are nice, close, but small. You have to get a 2bdrm townhouse, cuz the 1bdrm studios are like gold and not available. The townhouse will run you 700.00/month and it is dinky. About 10 feet wide and barely big enough for a couch and TV. In addition, the apartments, while gated, are, like the HSC, in a bad part of town. Thus if you have kids, you probably don't want to send them to school anywhere around here. Thus, my situation. I moved out and got a brand new, nice 2brdm apt. that is twice as large for 655.00 in Edmond, which if you don't know is the rather affluent ritzy suburb part of the area, in case my wife and kids are able to move up here in the future. But, other than that I liked living on campus. Very conveninent for the single guy/gal.

 

[freesolo]

actually it looks like 40+, suddenly amsa has become popular 😀. i think the president has something setup, thanks for the offer, ill ask him tommorrow.

 

[oudoc08]

actually it looks like 40+, suddenly amsa has become popular 😀. i think the president has something setup, thanks for the offer, ill ask him tommorrow.

Actually, Abe, I'm sorry. I failed to read your post completely and didn't realize that this was an AMSA group.

As someone who vehemently opposes nearly many of the key social issues that AMSA stands for, (i.e. -their promotion of socialized medicine, opposition to medical malpractice award caps, access to abortion on demand, opposition to a partial birth abortion ban, and encourangement of a total handgun ban for US citizens, as well as many others, I will not be involved with any promotion of AMSA sponsored events.
If you would individually like a tour, I would be happy to help out, but again, I refuse to be involved with AMSA in any way, shape or form and plan to encourage my fellow students to do the same.
I hope you educated yourself prior to being involved with them. If you did and agree with their positions, then fine, but if you didn't and are curious, or if the statements above come as a shock to you, please check out this page from their website. Note their "official" positions in the right hand column. Not only are they against nearly everythinig President Bush stands for, they even fall to the left of John Kerry on most every issue.
http://www.amsa.org/election2004/comparison.pdf