Received secondary for Wake Forest. Worth completing and sending in?

[iamdragonborn]

I posted this on the Wake Forest thread but figure I post a topic to get more opinions on this. So I received an email that I somehow made the cut to receive a secondary application. For those who don't know, their adcom takes a more holistic approach, reviewing each primary application and determining whether an applicant makes the cut to receive a secondary.

It's weird because my stats are fine for DO (based on AACOMAS GPA adjustment), but are basically no shot for any MD programs except for maybe HBCs. My unadjusted cGPA is 3.2, sGPA is 3.0, MPH GPA is 3.89, and MCAT is 503 (126/123/127/127). I'm also a URM (half black latino) and have strong ECs (lots of clinical and research experience with medically underserved, currently working as a tobacco cessation facilitator, etc.). If I made the cut, do you think it's worth submitting a secondary? I just find it hard to believe that they'll look more towards my ECs when they review it and send me an II.


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[ChrisMack390]

They didn't send you a secondary because you DON'T have a chance.


I just got one from UCSF last week. Totally unexpected and waaay after I submitted my primary. Still submitted it.

 

[iamdragonborn]

They didn't send you a secondary because you DON'T have a chance.


I just got one from UCSF last week. Totally unexpected and waaay after I submitted my primary. Still submitted it.

That's very true. I'll definitely send it out then. I was just worried about spending the $125, but if they're sending me an invite and if I really want to go to medical school there then it's worth the cost. Thanks for the encouragement


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[MDProspect]

I posted this on the Wake Forest thread but figure I post a topic to get more opinions on this. So I received an email that I somehow made the cut to receive a secondary application. For those who don't know, their adcom takes a more holistic approach, reviewing each primary application and determining whether an applicant makes the cut to receive a secondary.

It's weird because my stats are fine for DO (based on AACOMAS GPA adjustment), but are basically no shot for any MD programs except for maybe HBCs. My unadjusted cGPA is 3.2, sGPA is 3.0, MPH GPA is 3.89, and MCAT is 503 (126/123/127/127). I'm also a URM (half black latino) and have strong ECs (lots of clinical and research experience with medically underserved, currently working as a tobacco cessation facilitator, etc.). If I made the cut, do you think it's worth submitting a secondary? I just find it hard to believe that they'll look more towards my ECs when they review it and send me an II.


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I would submit it, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Wake sends out secondaries to thousands of applicants and only interviews a few hundred and accepts even fewer.

 

[iamdragonborn]

I would submit it, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Wake sends out secondaries to thousands of applicants and only interviews a few hundred and accepts even fewer.

Agreed with that. I'll submit one and stay realistic about it. Anything can happen but I wouldn't want to get my hopes way up.


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[ChrisMack390]

I would submit it, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Wake sends out secondaries to thousands of applicants and only interviews a few hundred and accepts even fewer.

Unlike all of the other medical schools...?

 

[MDProspect]

Unlike all of the other medical schools...?

Wake prescreens applicants before sending out the secondary. So I meant to say that even though you might get a secondary, the chances are still low for an II.

 

[MDProspect]

Seems your logic is backwards. He would have a better chance of an II post secondary if there is a heavier presecondary screen.....

"Better" is a relative term. During the last cycle, they had over 8000 verified applicants. If Wake is anything like other schools that prescreen and send out secondaries to only 1/3 -2/3 of those applicants, then they received around 2700-5300 completed secondaries (assuming that every applicant completed and submitted it). They also interviewed 570 applicants. Thus, there was a 1/5 -1/10 chance of getting an II. Of course the odds are better than at school that sends out secondaries to 10k+ applicants, but it's still a huge gamble. Regardless, OP should submit the secondary just in case, but I wouldn't be too hopeful with those odds.

 

[LittleEngineCould]

Sooo... I just received one like 2 days ago. *shrug*

They have rolling admissions, right? Seems like a cash grab in my case.

 

[BKNbkn]

Sooo... I just received one like 2 days ago. *shrug*

They have rolling admissions, right? Seems like a cash grab in my case.

They relocated their admissions office this summer, and they send out their secondaries in batches. This may explain why you're getting one at this time and not earlier.
They prescreen, but it's nowhere as rigorous as an erroneous SDN-perpetuated figure (quashed by WF's @Pathdocmd in the school-specific thread).
They are rolling admissions, but November is far from April.
They stated during my interview there that their waitlist also has movement, so WL is not a death sentence.

 

[LittleEngineCould]

They relocated their admissions office this summer, and they send out their secondaries in batches. This may explain why you're getting one at this time and not earlier.
They prescreen, but it's nowhere as rigorous as an erroneous SDN-perpetuated figure (quashed by WF's @Pathdocmd in the school-specific thread).
They are rolling admissions, but November is far from April.
They stated during my interview there that their waitlist also has movement, so WL is not a death sentence.

Thanks for the insight! Alright, I'll think it over.

 

[DiscusKeeper]

I was in a similar situation. Got a secondary from UCSD. They have very few out of state spots (I'm OS) and are a top 20 school. My stats are right around their average, but because they get so many applications for so few out of state spots, I wasn't extremely competitive.

I got put on hold for an interview. While I was hoping for an II, this is definitely not a terrible outcome. I'd recommend filling out the secondary. You definitely have a chance of getting an II if you're receiving a secondary from a school that prescreens.

 

[Pathdocmd]

I posted this on the Wake Forest thread but figure I post a topic to get more opinions on this. So I received an email that I somehow made the cut to receive a secondary application. For those who don't know, their adcom takes a more holistic approach, reviewing each primary application and determining whether an applicant makes the cut to receive a secondary.

It's weird because my stats are fine for DO (based on AACOMAS GPA adjustment), but are basically no shot for any MD programs except for maybe HBCs. My unadjusted cGPA is 3.2, sGPA is 3.0, MPH GPA is 3.89, and MCAT is 503 (126/123/127/127). I'm also a URM (half black latino) and have strong ECs (lots of clinical and research experience with medically underserved, currently working as a tobacco cessation facilitator, etc.). If I made the cut, do you think it's worth submitting a secondary? I just find it hard to believe that they'll look more towards my ECs when they review it and send me an II.


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We interview a wide range of MCATs. This is the spread of one day a month or two ago: 501, 506, 507, 509, 510, 510, 510, 513, 515, 516, 520 and one "old" MCAT of 32. We have screened in a higher percentage of people this year than last, which I think was because of the new MCAT. We will will probably tighten it up a bit next year.

 

[MDProspect]

We interview a wide range of MCATs. This is the spread of one day a month or two ago: 501, 506, 507, 509, 510, 510, 510, 513, 515, 516, 520 and one "old" MCAT of 32. We have screened in a higher percentage of people this year than last, which I think was because of the new MCAT. We will will probably tighten it up a bit next year.

Can you comment on why there are more applicants with the new mcat score than with the old score. Does wake have a preference for the new exam?

 

[Pathdocmd]

Can you comment on why there are more applicants with the new mcat score than with the old score. Does wake have a preference for the new exam?

Only 14% of all applicants do not have a new MCAT score.

 

[MDProspect]

Only 14% of all applicants do not have a new MCAT score.

Thank you. I am part of that 14%. I applied mid-July and have yet to hear back. Since interview invites are sent out one month ahead of the interview, is the last interview invite at the end of February?

 

[Pathdocmd]

Thank you. I am part of that 14%. I applied mid-July and have yet to hear back. Since interview invites are sent out one month ahead of the interview, is the last interview invite at the end of February?

Yes. It will be about a month ahead of time, so mid February.

 

[Pathdocmd]

Yes. It will be about a month ahead of time, so mid February.

Last Friday we interviewed people that had their file completed in July, August, and September. I looked ahead two Fridays from now and it is the same, July - September.