Smdep 2010

[NorCal1989]

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I am in no way saying that the only way to help is by being a medical doctor. I was only saying that PERSONALLY I wish I could do more .. because while i feel that so much can be done I would love to be more hands on. I have donated a lot of money as well as clothes and my time to groups at my school that have been set up for relief efforts. As well as churches on campus. I just think it is such a tragedy and wish I could do more.

How was your trip to Nicaragua. What did you guys do on a day to day basis?

I hear you, I hear you. There is so much more I wish I could do as well.

The trip to Nicaragua was fantastic. I fell in love with the people there and interacting with the locals was my favorite aspect of the trip. Everyone I met had a smile, a big heart, and a story to tell. They defined what a community and a family should be. On a day by day basis, we had set up a clinic in three different communities, each clinic being 3-4 days long. We provided medical, dental, and optometry services. The first day in each community, we would do house clinics where we would go door to door to have the family address any health problems, then we would give them tickets with a time slot to visit our clinic. Most of the team is pre-med and were involved in the triage. There we were divided into three groups, each getting a patient every 15-20 minutes. We would take a full medical history, do a physical exam, and then explain the symptoms to the Doctor (who was from Nicaragua). She would then help us address a diagnosis and prescribe medications for the patient.

As aforementioned, we had a optometry station too where each day we'd have a different student running it. There, we had glasses with a range of prescriptions. The reactions from the patients were incredible. You could see their faces light up as they started seeing things clearly and could read. And we also had a dental clinic where we did tons of teeth cleaning, fillings, and a few of us got to do extractions. The dentist we worked with was also from the area. It was very hands-on and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

On other days, we had the opportunity to tour the city of Managua, Granada, dine out, and visit the lagoons. It was a great trip, worth every cent, and I'd definitely do it again.

 

[mwall003]

I'd love to be a doctor now to go to Haiti and help with the relief efforts.

As for Duke I don't know either, I was also called by their program head to ask for my current spring classes (only math and science). I think they probably do that for everyone who applies. So where's everyone applying?

I've got Duke, Yale, and UVA

 

[futureMDali]

yea same! but i am not taking any math so i just told her my science classes.. i really dont want to go passed calc 1 but i guess i should. i was like ummm... did no one else get a call??? I was actually pretty excited they called me. hopefully they are considering us! I am applying Columbia, Duke and Howard. I am so nervous. but i have faith that if its meant to be it will be. 🙄

 

[Youmustknowme]

Norcal, that wouldnt happen to be a Projects Aboard program you went on, would it?

 

[NorCal1989]

Norcal, that wouldnt happen to be a Projects Aboard program you went on, would it?

Close, I am definitely familiar with Projects Abroad, but my team (all from my school) did it through International Service Learning. They have some really neat trips, mostly to Central America, but also got Peru, Dominican Republic, and Tanzania. Check it out, it was expensive but it was worth every single cent. =)

 

[lexieismyalias]

what smdep program did you all apply to? dental or medical ? 🙂

 

[metalgirl14]

Just wanted to say good luck to everyone applying to SMDEP 2010. One word of warning though: make sure the programs you apply to start AFTER your finals are finished. I unknowingly applied to a few that started before my finals were complete so I didn't get to participate in the one that I was accepted at.

 

[mwall003]

UVA, Duke, and Yale

For those of you who received a call from Duke concerning your current semester classes (science & math only) -- do you all have your status for Duke as currently under review? They called me about two weeks ago but my status for them is still --------- while Yale and UVA currently under review. Good luck to all a few more weeks for the early bird applicants!!

 

[Moon Beams]

Just out of curiosity while completing my application...
Regarding the letters of recomendation, are your recomenders typing an actual letter to go along with the sheet? The SMDEP application only requests that their sheet be filled out, and that a letter is optional. So I was just wondering if others are sending in letters, or just the recomendation form itself?

 

[futureMDali]

i specifically asked my recommenders to attach a separate letter. I think that gives them more insight into who you are and a little more about you!

 

[futureMDali]

UVA, Duke, and Yale

For those of you who received a call from Duke concerning your current semester classes (science & math only) -- do you all have your status for Duke as currently under review? They called me about two weeks ago but my status for them is still --------- while Yale and UVA currently under review. Good luck to all a few more weeks for the early bird applicants!!

u LITERALLY read my mind! my application isn't under review but i got a phone call from them.

 

[mwall003]

if your professors have time writing another page addition to the rec wouldn't hurt unless you really don't know your professor.

And wooh that's a good relief. I wasn't sure about Duke, but if they called i think its safe to assume they're reviewing apps.

 

[mwall003]

Anyone have any information on UVA SMDEP pertaining to what the lectures were like, your overall impression of the program, any Letters of Recommendation opportunities from professors or TAs, was there a GPA/grade system etc. Thanks!

 

[tulipa]

Hey, I'm about to complete my application and I was wondering how many post-secondary experiences have you guys added. It says it may only be a maximum of 10, but I was wondering if adding a lot of experiences would help or vice-versa. Because I thought that maybe if they see a lot of experiences they would think the program won't be of use to the applicant since he/she would already have many experiences. Instead, someone with less experiences will take more advantage from the program.

what do you think?

 

[tulipa]

And again, I have another question. About the essays, did you talked about getting accepted into SMDEP? or in what ways the program will help you? or stuff like that?

 

[patrick1674]

is it too late to apply to these types of programs?

 

[lexieismyalias]

is it too late to apply to these types of programs?

No, the deadline is March 1, 2010.

 

[Strag]

Hey, I'm about to complete my application and I was wondering how many post-secondary experiences have you guys added. It says it may only be a maximum of 10, but I was wondering if adding a lot of experiences would help or vice-versa. Because I thought that maybe if they see a lot of experiences they would think the program won't be of use to the applicant since he/she would already have many experiences. Instead, someone with less experiences will take more advantage from the program.

what do you think?

You should list anything and everything about you. It gives the program an overall view of who you are. If anything, I'm sure they would pick applicants that have more experience than others and see that those applicants are the ones who are serious about their career goals.

Don't take the application form for granted...you are going against a lot of other competitive applicants, so you want to put your best foot forward.

 

[Youmustknowme]

And again, I have another question. About the essays, did you talked about getting accepted into SMDEP? or in what ways the program will help you? or stuff like that?

In my essays I did not talk about getting accepted into SMDEP or mention how it would benefit me but now that i think about it i think i should have. Just a sentence at the bottom or something but then again that would have sounded like "please pick me" and i was avoiding that.


I added 6/10 experiences. Not too few and not too many.

patrick- I think if you havent applied by now your chances are not as high but there is always a chance of getting accepted. who knows you might be the perfect applicant.

 

[rredfern]

My application was just completed yesterday because of the colleges that I took courses from when I was in high school took so long to send out transcripts. Is it too late for me to get accepted? I am not an underrepresented minority or from an economic background, so I know that cuts my chances down by half or so. I applied to Nebraska and Kentucky. I am really hoping that I get accepted in to Nebraska because that is one of the med schools I want to apply to soon.

 

[lexieismyalias]

My application was just completed yesterday because of the colleges that I took courses from when I was in high school took so long to send out transcripts. Is it too late for me to get accepted? I am not an underrepresented minority or from an economic background, so I know that cuts my chances down by half or so. I applied to Nebraska and Kentucky. I am really hoping that I get accepted in to Nebraska because that is one of the med schools I want to apply to soon.

Heya, I don't think it's too late to get accepted. A lot of people are probably just now starting their application process. Also, keep in mind that there are two admission dates, one in feb. and one in april..and since we're the first group to hear back, I think we, as the first group, have a higher chance of getting accepted. I too applied to Nebraska so I wish us both luck!

 

[Acoustica]

I'm so worried about my application 🙁

I submitted my transcripts before I turned in my application, and the transcript has been approved, so now apparently my application is complete. I'm concerned about my letters of recs because they were just recently sent in (one via fax and one via mail). Will they review my application before they receive my recommendations, or will they wait? I'm pretty sure my recs were great so I was hoping admissions would read and consider them.

Just a question about the notifications....

If I submitted my application on January 20th, do I have to wait until Feb 15th to get my acceptances/rejections or it is based upon how fast they review my applications?

I'm really crossing my fingers to get in...

 

[naijagirl44]

Its my understanding that if your application is complete before Feb 1st, you will receive and admissions decision on February 15th. If your app is completed after Feb. 1, then you will get your decision on April 1

 

[Acoustica]

Oh I see, thanks! I was confused because I was reading threads on the previous years' SMDEP programs and those seem to be a rolling application process.. but isn't this years the same also? I know Columbia is already all full.

 

[rsgrig36]

Hey, how'd you find out Columbia is already full?

Thanks

 

[Acoustica]

When I was filling out the application and picking my designated sites to apply to, you can no longer choose Columbia as a choice and it had "(full)" next to the name. I assume the spots are already taken up.

 

[mwall003]

very interesting. No my application is complete as of early December i submitted it a week after it came out. I sent my LOR the first week of NOV too and they have only 1 out of 2. I called and they said don't worry about it one's enough. They seemed so nonchalant and truly I truly think from what I understood if you're applying before FEB 1 and hear back FEB 15 you'll get into at LEAST 1 out of 3 schools you applied to. That's about what I learned from calling as long as you have good grades, scores, ecs and stuff. This program really seems like apply to make the early deadline the sooner your app is reviewed if its decent and there's a spot your in and it's a great great program for medical school application as well as learning what it takes to be a med student

 

[Acoustica]

Oh so mwall003 you haven't heard back yet from the places you've applied to?

I really really really hope that I get into at UWash or Yale. What you've said about 1 in 3 is pretty comforting. I just hope it's enough for me!

 

[mwall003]

don't hold me accountable on that but they really just told me relax you'll be fine and end up where you want to be in the summer.

the standard date of notification is Feb 15th if your app is submitted by Feb 1st. If it's after Feb 1st then you don't hear back until April 1st and that's when it starts getting hard to get in where you want because many programs are full by then

 

[NorCal1989]

I am surprised that it appears that Columbia may have already selected all their prospectives for Summer 2010. I figured they would leave spots open for those who applied after February 1st.

Admission decisions come out 3 weeks from tomorrow!

 

[Acoustica]

Was there an even earlier deadline for an even earlier notification? Otherwise how else would Columbia be full already?

Crossing my fingers. Good luck everyone!

 

[Acoustica]

Will they review my application without my rec letters? UCLA says it's reviewing my app but my rec letters haven't been processed yet 🙁

 

[NorCal1989]

Was there an even earlier deadline for an even earlier notification? Otherwise how else would Columbia be full already?

Crossing my fingers. Good luck everyone!

Not that I know of, the two deadlines are February 1st and March 1st. I am confused with the whole admission process change. Last year, it was all rolling with just one deadline of March 1st. The sites began accepting students on a rolling basis starting in December until all spots were full. And this year, those who applied prior to February 1st will get an admission decision on February 15th and those who applied afterwards won't here back until April. So, it appears that you will be competing with all students who applied prior to each deadline, however, I just don't understand why the Columbia site is apparently full in regard to the new admissions policy. If this was the case last year with the rolling admission and one deadline, then it would make sense as Columbia is often the first the site to fill up followed by Yale and Duke.

 

[Acoustica]

Has anyone else seen that Columbia is full when they are applying (for those who havent submitted an app yet)? It was full for me when I submitted on the 20th, but I hope I wasn't the only who saw it.

And I called the office today and they said that if the application is in and the transcripts have been approved, the sites may start to review your application, regardless of whether or not you have a letter of rec in. Whether the sites actually review it then depends individually on the site, but for me UCLA has already started reviewing.

Does anyone know how long it takes for them to process a letter of rec that is faxed it or mailed in? I hope both of my get in soon before yale and uwash start to review (those are my top two).

 

[lexieismyalias]

Has anyone else seen that Columbia is full when they are applying (for those who havent submitted an app yet)? It was full for me when I submitted on the 20th, but I hope I wasn't the only who saw it.

And I called the office today and they said that if the application is in and the transcripts have been approved, the sites may start to review your application, regardless of whether or not you have a letter of rec in. Whether the sites actually review it then depends individually on the site, but for me UCLA has already started reviewing.

Does anyone know how long it takes for them to process a letter of rec that is faxed it or mailed in? I hope both of my get in soon before yale and uwash start to review (those are my top two).

When one of my LORs was faxed, it was processed in a couple of days. The LOR that was mailed in took about a month to process.

 

[mwall003]

I sent in 2 recommendations via snail mail back in the first week of NOV. They said 1's fine they're even cool with reviewing without an app. Basically the earlier you applied when the app was released on NOV 1st its a rolling process until its full then they release the decisions on just one day Feb 15 if you applied before Feb 1. It probably makes it easier for them.

 

[NorCal1989]

Came across some neat articles about the challenges United States doctors are facing in providing health care in Haiti.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/01/26/haiti.doctors.lessons/index.html?hpt=T1

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/01/25/doctors.haiti.hardships/index.html#cnnSTCText


20 days 'till decision day!!!

 

[tulipa]

I finished my application yesterday, and Columbia is no longer as "full", you can choose it. Actually, Columbia was one of my choices and last week when I saw it was "full" I had to change my decision and think about another university. And then, yesterday night, when I saw that it was again available, I didn't know what to do. At the end I didn't choose NY. But still, I just wanted to let you know that it is again an option.

 

[rhyn]

So there will be no decisions released until Feb. 15th? I thought the website meant that all decisions would be made BY Feb. 15th.

 

[lexieismyalias]

So there will be no decisions released until Feb. 15th? I thought the website meant that all decisions would be made BY Feb. 15th.

"Explanation of Admission Decisions

The SMDEP program sites provide notification of admission decisions once the NPO has a "Completed" application by one of the following decision dates:
Admissions decisions are released on February 15 for applications completed by February 1st.
Admissions decisions are released on April 1 for applications completed after February 1st.
All applications must be submitted by the deadline on March 1, 2010. Admissions decisions are submitted and posted online. To monitor your status, check the "View Status" page on the SMDEP web's application site."

 

[lexieismyalias]

oh and for those who are just applying, remember that your application status has to be "Completed" by Feb 1st and not just "Submitted" by Feb1st. It takes a couple of weeks for your application to be "completed" after your application and transcripts have been received...and usually longer during peak months (jan-feb). So remember that you may not hear back on Feb 15th even if you are sending in your application within the next few days..unless the view status page says that your application is "complete" by Feb 1st. Good luck!

 

[Acoustica]

Thanks for the advice, Lexieismyalias, even though it doesn't apply to me.
I don't like the way it works because when I applied, I didn't get a chance to apply to Columbia (though I'm not even sure if I'd make it) because it happened to be full when I was applying. It's one thing if it's still full now, but it doesnt make sense to punish me for finishing the app sooner.

This sucks.

And when I called the national head quarters, they said that the results would be released on the 15th for those who have completed their apps by the 1st. Good luck everyone.

 

[pitupua]

🙂

 

[futureMDali]

I got a phone call about 3 weeks ago from duke asking about my spring schedule but not the grades because that would have been on my transcript that I sent in. Has anyone applying to duke or howard had a "application in review" next to that site?? Columbia has had that next to mine for 3 weeks now while those other two have nothing..

 

[pitupua]

🙂

 

[Vaiyoretto]

I got a phone call about 3 weeks ago from duke asking about my spring schedule but not the grades because that would have been on my transcript that I sent in. Has anyone applying to duke or howard had a "application in review" next to that site?? Columbia has had that next to mine for 3 weeks now while those other two have nothing..

Yea I have Columbia and UMDNJ with "application in review" but nothing for Howard.

 

[mabreu328]

Hey everyone! I just started my SMDEP 2010 application. I'm not sure where I will be applying but Columbia is definatly on the list, hope it's not too full by now.

 

[Youmustknowme]

Hey I wanna know more about you guys. See whose applying to the site.
I go to FIU, I am biology major. I am ½ English and ½ Iranian. (Iranians are considered Aryan so I have to put white on my applications lol but I hope the fact im a part middle eastern will help me get in, even though its not considered a minority.) I have lived in Miami all my life. I have never been more excited applying to a program before lol.
Norcal! Im real interested in your background and info. But please everyone pitch in.


On another note,
I know someone on my campus who applied to Colombia, Yale and UWASH last year and who got in all three. She is the tallest girl in our school (I think) like definitely over 7 feet maybe 8 and is Black with almost a 4.0 gpa and a ton of extra curriculum activities. She went to the Colombia one.
My other friend who told her about the program who is a Hispanic with lots of research experience, not too high of a GPA, and also happened to apply to the same three and didn’t get into any. (doesnt that suck!) 👎
.

AHHH- so nervous!
🙂

 

[futureMDali]

Hi EVERYONE!!!! I am ali 🙂 Youmustknowme is my best friend and we both are applying to SMDEP. Not much competition because we applied to different sites. I was born and raised in miami florida but now live in New mexico and go to the University of Arizona. I am "black" .. My parents are from Jamaica but they are mixed with everything under the sun so I consider myself a very mixed person. My major is Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Pre-Health, Business and Spanish. I want to be bilingual, have a background in business so my practice will run smoothly and eventually go to medical school.
SMDEP is like my DREAM... i think about it ALL THE TIME.. me and youmustknowme are constantly on the phone discussing this amazing opportunity!!!!

Hope to see some of you over the summer.. I pray everyday that I get in!!!

AHHHH so excited !!!!!!!!!😀

 

[NorCal1989]

Alright, alright. I am black, yet my Mom is part-Native American and Dad is part white. I grew up in Northern California and England, yet have been living in Virginia for the last decade. I am incredibly passionate about traveling and dental care (especially in third-world countries). My main goal is to go into hospital-based oral surgery. And ultimately, later on in life, I hope to get to travel and work with children who have cleft/lip palate from families who can't afford the procedure. I did some dental work in Nicaragua, and it really fueled my desire to provide service to those who can't afford dental care.

I heard about SMDEP freshman year, but sort of looked down upon it. But when I started talking to SMDEP alumni around campus, I realized this program is simply incredible and felt bad for not applying last summer. I have no idea where I want to go to dental school, but I love Seattle and I really hope to get into the UWash program site.