The Official UC Irvine Countdown Thread

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•••quote:•••Originally posted by Kazzar:
•california, the letter of intent cant hurt. I know they dont accept status updates (I asked), but maybe letter of intents are alright. Maybe you can skip past the normal bureaucracy and go right to the admissions dean. Her number and email are on the UCI webpage, but to save you time I'll post them here:

Ellena Peterson, Ph.D., Assistant Dean, [email protected] (949) 824-8356

You could email her saying how much you like UCI and if you could write a formal letter of intent. That way, you'll let her know how much you like the school, she hears your name, which always gives you an edge. She is wonderful person, so she'll be pretty responsive, even if she can't do anything on your behalf.

Don't even consider calling the Director of Admissions, Gayle Pierce. She is swamped with calls and letters, so I bet she can't help you out very much. She must get pretty sick of pre-meds at this point.•••••wait california?! I thought you said you alredy sent a letter of intent to UCSD stating that it is your first choice?! if that's the case? then I thought we weren't allowed or it would be unethical to send "two letters of intent" claiming that if you got in you will withdraw from all other schools?!
 
Kazzar:

•••quote:••• Ellena Peterson, Ph.D., Assistant Dean, [email protected] (949) 824-8356 ••••So this is the person highest on the adcom ladder that we should contact? Will it change for next year (2003)?
 
I actually did not send a letter of intent to any of the schools I applied to. I simply wrote a letter to my top choices explaining my interest in the school and why I thought I would be a perfect fit there. I never stated I would withdraw my application from all other schools if I was granted an acceptance. I do not feel comfortable binding myself.
 
coenocyte, yeah Ellena Peterson is the highest person on the adcom ladder. However, if you are really bold, you can skip past her and an write an email to the dean of the college of medicine, Tom Cesario. I wouldn't recommend doing so, since he'll probably blow off your email. I don't know if she will be there next year (2003-2004), but I assume she will be.

The reason I know she is the highest person, despite being an "associate dean," is because my boss called the old dean of admissions, which he knew very well, and asked who took his spot. My boss was going to write me a letter of recommendation to Ellena, but then I got in before he had to.

In other words, do what you have to do if you want to get in! Some friendly banter can go farther than 10 points on the MCAT.
 
Hey Kazzar,
Do you know any more details about the full tuition scholarships?? It would be really awesome to get one. I was accepted in early February, and have not heard anything about financial aid yet...so it is possible that no scholarship offers have gone out..who knows.

I'm looking forward to meeting everyone 🙂 .
Dr Happy
 
All I know about the full tuition scholarships is that they cover your fees. My friend got them and used her loan money to buy herself a new Honda. I think we'll find out when our financial aid packets get mailed the middle of May (according to what the financial aid office lady said).
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by Kazzar:
•All I know about the full tuition scholarships is that they cover your fees. My friend got them and used her loan money to buy herself a new Honda. •••••GODDAMN! LUCKY B*&((
 
So the financial aid packets should be coming soon then, huh??

Kazzar, I wrote you back 2 days ago. SDN no longer informs you when you have a private message by email...so, check your PMs to see if my message is there 🙂
 
Is it really full tuition by merit or full tuition by financial need? (i.e. a lotta people talk about getting 'full rides' to undergrad schools but it's basically financial aid that's providing funding).
 
It's full tuition that is not need-based. It's a scholarship true and true. Everybody gets normal grant/loan money.
 
Hi SDNers;
Does anyone know how many students have been accepted to UCI so far? I was interviewed there on 04/04 and haven't heard anything yet. I'm patiently crossing my fingers now. When is the admissions committee going to meet again?
It's nice to know that they offer quite a few of full scholarship.
Thanx,
 
I hear they accepted their full class just recently. They might have reserved some spots for the recent interviewers, assuming some of the acceptees will reject UCI. I didn't hear back from them after my Novemeber 8 interview until January 15, so I think there is a 2 month wait on decisions, at least that's how it was early in the process.

BTW, the party thrown by first year students from UCI today was much cooler than expected. They had tons of wine, beer, interesting food, desserts up the wazzu, and it was held at a beach-house in Corona Del Mar. The students there are really cool. Everybody knows each other, they are low-stress and laid back. The effect of UCIs curriculum shows - people are relaxed and they do well on the board exams. It's because UCI gives its students time off to study for the boards. That's why they do so well on them. I am surprised more schools don't give students time off.
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by california:
•For the record, I did not send a letter of intent to any of the schools I applied to. I simply wrote a letter to my top choices explaining my interest in the school and why I thought I would be a perfect fit there. I never stated I would withdraw my application from all other schools if I was granted an acceptance. I do not feel comfortable binding myself.•••••that is a very good idea....sorry for the misunderstanding...I was hoping it was possible so I could do it 😛
 
california- how did you write your letters as to be persuasive, but not binding? Just curious... Thanks and good luck!
 
Honestly, I don't think UC institutions put much wait on *letter of intents* or *letter of interests,* which is what I have been writing. I think, of course, sending letters of this sort can't hurt your application, but I do no think they are the difference between an acceptance or rejection from the waitlist. In fact, I think most of the Admissions Staff at UC Irvine do not even know what a letter of intent is. I know this from experience. (I asked the secretary, Barbara Tagadur, if UC Irvine accepts *letter of intents,* but she had NO IDEA what I was talking about.) Just my two cents.

Aria, to answer your question, I think the way I maintained "weight" for my *letter of interest* to various schools was by having concrete reasons for why I wanted to attend the school. I think in doing so I came across as more genuine and sincere.
 
Can anyone who went to the UC Irvine "Reception" for Accepted Students" please post their impressions? I heard all of you had the opportunity to enjoy a cruise through the Balboa region. Sounds like fun. (Sarcastic tone, since I have experienced the cruise a half dozen times through my life time. Believe me, it doesn't get any better by the fifth time, especially if you are one to get motion sickness.)
 
Oh the Balboa Cruise was out of control! I just got back and it was great. They had a 5 member jazz band, great food (shrimp, chicken, ribs, etc), and a bartender on board. At first people were just mingling, but the last hour everybody got crazy and started dancing and acting wild. UCI is definately a fun school and once again, the students there are very very happy. I think a few people with multiple acceptances said that they are almost sure they want to go to UCI because of how much fun they had.

Best moment of the cruise: dancing with the UCI financial aid lady who was wasted (and I was pretty buzzed too, to be honest).
 
Oh yeah, UCI does not really give much weigh to the letter of intent. Maybe its because most people want to go to a UC, so they don't have to worry about people taking their acceptances and being happy. Whereas in not so popular private schools (and even in some popular ones), they want to know for sure if you are interested because they would rather take somebody who is enthusiastic about their school than somebody who could care less.

Once again, a letter of intent couldn't hurt, but I don't think it will do much either. I believe the applications are already scored at this point, they choose you based on your overall application.
 
Hi Kazzar;
It seems that you have a lot of inside info about UCI. If they have accepted full class, does that mean they have given out about 2*92=184 acceptances?
Thanx.
 
Naw, last I heard (this is from talking to Gayle today at the cruise) they finished their inital round of acceptances.

I heard (word of mouth only, sorry) that UCI accepted about 90 students. They are really behind with the usual process. I think they are waiting until after May 15 to create their waitlist (IIII-ron-EEEE).

At the 2nd look weekend there was about 30-40 acceptees there, if that is any indication of the number of students accepted. Since UCI preferentially accepts CA residents, you would expect way more students to be present at their 2nd look weekend, then say, Iowa.

I hope this helps.
 
If they've only sent out half of their initial acceptances, it seems like it was a little premature to have a second look weekend already. That seems to be the type of activity that should be reserved for everyone who will ultimately get an outright acceptance. If I get accepted now, it's going to be hard for me to weigh UCI properly since I had a skewed interview experience and never got a chance to attend the revisit. Oh well, guess I just need you guys to keep the UCI praise coming in case I ever get accepted.
 
Hi Kazzar,
You are the man. Btw, do you know how many UCI undergrads were there at the revisit weekend?
How about last year? How many did go to UCI as undergrads? My student interviewer told me that "majority" of the class were UCI undergrads.
I'm also an anteater (zot, zot, zot). So, I just hope that they still keep on the tradition of favoring UCI nerds. 😀
Muchos gracias.
 
During my interview day (April 25, 2002), the Director of Admissions, Ellena Peterson, PhD, stated that there were only two more Admissions Committee meetings left. One is on May 6, 2002, which happens to be today, and the other date I am unsure of. Good luck to everyone who is still waiting like me!

I hope this gives all who are interested an idea of how many applicants have indeed been accepted. Again, best of luck.
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by california:
•During my interview day (April 25, 2002), the Director of Admissions, Ellena Peterson, PhD, stated that there were only two more Admissions Committee meetings left. One is on May 6, 2002, which happens to be today, and the other date I am unsure of. Good luck to everyone who is still waiting like me!

I hope this gives all who are interested an idea of how many applicants have indeed been accepted. Again, best of luck.•••••**** dogg! Wasup homey da clown!??!
aka WEASEL # 1 !!!!!

haha

So will we hear today then if we got in?
Is this may 15th deadline to decide still going on? It's so annoying when schools wait until late may to get back to us!
 
I second Kazzar's comment that the students are VERY happy at UCI. The weekend was unbelievable!! The first year med students threw a party for us on Saturday night, and on sunday, we had a question/answer session with a panel of faculty and students, followed by a tour of the medical center. We then, as Kazzar mentioned, had the harbor cruise.

First and foremost, what impressed me the most about UCI were the students. They were wonderful: happy and relaxed with nothing bad to say about the school. They all said that they were very busy, but were able to have a life outside of medical school. UCI prepares them very well - I saw the match list for this year and it is very impressive. Students say that they feel as prepared to be physicians as students at the other UCs.

Also, the curriculum has always involved a good amount of patient contact, but they are including even more. Students can work at student-run clinics, prenatal clinics, or they can do ride alongs with the ambulance or firefighters. Likewise, there are preceptorship opprotunities. UCI has a Patient-Doctor class that is beginning to incorporate more of a problem-based learning format. In the second year, students spend a half a day a week in small groups with a physician, and a PBL formated course revolves around these experiences. The physician that the students are paired with, then remains with the students during the third and fourth year as a mentor. Also, students can participate in a clinical skills teaching program.

Another great thing about UCI is the responsiveness of the faculty and staff to the students' needs. There is a dean's hour once every month or two for the med students to share concerns, etc. Change is implimented if the students feel it is necessary. Likewise, there are counseling services and wellness seminars available.

Overall, I LOVE UCI!!!! I am definitely picking UCI over my other acceptances. For those of you who get in, I urge you to look beyond the fact that it is not in the top 50. UCI is a great place to be, a great place to learn medicine, and a wonderful place to ENJOY your years in med school.

Hope that helps,
Dr Happy
 
DR HAPPY,

Please check your PMs......
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by Dr Happy:
•Overall, I LOVE UCI!!!! I am definitely picking UCI over my other acceptances. For those of you who get in, I urge you to look beyond the fact that it is not in the top 50. UCI is a great place to be, a great place to learn medicine, and a wonderful place to ENJOY your years in med school.

Hope that helps,
Dr Happy•••••To add my $0.02, the school's also loaded with research $$. For those interested in pursuing basic science/clinical research, UCI's a great place to get it fulfilled. I really have no idea why the school's not within the top 50 rank...
 
I want to make a correction to one of my previous posts. The Admissions Committee meeting that I thought would take place today, May 6, 2002, will actually be held on Thursday, May 9, 2002. Sorry for the error. I presume most of us who are still waiting to hear a post-interview decision will receive word next week. Good luck to all!
 
[/qb][/QUOTE]To add my $0.02, the school's also loaded with research $$. For those interested in pursuing basic science/clinical research, UCI's a great place to get it fulfilled. I really have no idea why the school's not within the top 50 rank...[/QB][/QUOTE]
Interestingly, a student told me that a few years back, UCI was #30, but it lost it's rep when that huge infertility scandal broke out!!! 🙁 Anyone know if this is true? Only hearsay (albeit from a fourth year student) right now.
 
Some more hearsay I heard is that UCI isn't ranked becuase they refuse to be rated by US News. (I have no idea why that would be true however...)
 
Yeah UCI had 2 major scandals that diminished its rank low on the list:

The spinal cord "Willed Body" program where a Doc sold some bodies to a company called Replica to help students study anatomy (illegally, I might add). Hawkeyes is also correct about that fertility scandal, but the details escape me. Once people forget about those scandals, I think UCI will pop back up into the top 50. It is my predicition that UCI will break the top 20 by the time I graduate (2006).

-----

At the 2nd look weekend, there were a ton of UCI undergrad students. I think I saw 6 there (out of the 40 or so), possibly more cause I didn't meet everybody (UCI is a big school - 20,000 students - you don't know your classmates very well).

The biggest revelation is that within the new neurobiology major (which is very small, only ~25 students are in it) 3 people were accepted at UCI and attended the 2nd look weekend (which means that even more could be accepted later). I think <10 people in my major applied, so that means that >33% of neurobiology majors at UCI get into UCI medical school. It could be luck, but those are great odds. So word of advice for UCI undergrads: take the neurobiology major.

-----

Dr. Happy is right on with all her comments! She took avid notes at the 2nd look weekend, so she knows her ****! (I should know cause I sat next to her). She's gonna make a fine doctor some day.

PS, Dr. Happy, can I borrow your notes for the next 4 years?
 
Hi cal;
It's your fault, dude. I thought today was the D-day for UCI, so I went to churches, temples, synagogues, ... to pray to Jesus, Buddha, Allah,...I guess I have to do it again on Thursday. 😀
Anyways, today's prayers could be used for my UCSD acceptance. 😀 I hope God accepts my switching.
 
Kazzar - no kidding, REALLY?!?! top 20? That's pretty big news. Any reason you may think so? I like UCI for all the intangibles, but a nice reputation would make it even nicer...
 
I think the reason UCI will make the top 20 for these reasons:

-Big grant money coming in (NIH <img border="0" alt="[Lovey]" title="" src="graemlins/lovey.gif" /> us)
-UCI is attracting nobel laurets (we have 2) and distinguished professors from other schools (great location and UCI gives tons of perks to professors, ie a house in University Hills)
-More buildings are in plans to be constructed in the college of medicine (1 being built currently)
-Administration is great (flexible and willing to change anything and everything to make it the best school in respect to education and opportunities - it has no lame traditions to hold it back from progress)
-More but I grow weary of my mortal coil
 
I'm waiting to hear from UCI after being placed on the alternate list and I'm starting to think it ain't gonna happen. Has anyone been accepted to UCI with stats this low: 3.5/28Q ?

Did anyone resolve the issue as to whether UCI rejects post-interview?

Ugh, this sucks.
 
When I interviewed, we were told that UCI does not reject post interview. You are either accepted or waitlisted. Hang in there grumpy.
 
Just got an email from them saying I was on the alternate list...no big surprise considering I interviewed in late March..
 
A friend of mine got in with a 3.9 GPA and a 25 MCAT... there is always hope!
 
25MCAT??? Is he/she a URM?
 
Nope, she is Iranian aka Persian (which is considered White). She had 3 jobs, tons of extracurriculars, a stellar personality, and a great work ethic.

Proof that hard work can make up for a poor MCAT score!
 
Anyone know for sure when UCI's first day/orientation start is? I couldn't find it anywhere on their website. Also, do they have one of those graphic thingy's that gives you an overview (in terms of months of the year) of what the curriculum looks like, when the breaks are? I'm trying to get to Malaysia for a fam reunion for Christmas break and don't even know that we really even have one! Please help.
 
I wanted to get some advice. Seeing as my application was reviewed by the Admissions Committee last night, should I walk over to Medical Building 802 and ask Gayle Pierce for a final decision?

The wait is killing me and I engage in research work in a laboratory that is literally 500 feet away. I guess my only apprehension is being told I am placed in the "Alternate List." I would find those two words to be crushing. On the other hand, I would be so exstatic to hear that I have been accepted. What should I do?
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by hawkeyes:
•Anyone know for sure when UCI's first day/orientation start is? I couldn't find it anywhere on their website. Also, do they have one of those graphic thingy's that gives you an overview (in terms of months of the year) of what the curriculum looks like, when the breaks are? I'm trying to get to Malaysia for a fam reunion for Christmas break and don't even know that we really even have one! Please help.•••••Orientation is August 28-30.
With respect to the website, they are trying to fix it up, so hopefully it will be functional for next year's crowd of applicants
 
Thanks McEntyre. Anyone know anythign about the layout of the year's schedule? California, ... it must be SO tough to work so close ... yet not know! I dont' know what I would do in your situation, but whichever you decide.. remember that your fate has certainly NOT been decided. It would be easier to hear about acceptance, of course, but to be on the alternate list is not the end of you. May 15 isn't even here yet! And so many people get in over the summer, you've heard it again and again. So it may not be sooner, but a later acceptance. And by then you may already be on your way to SD. I'm crossing my fingers for you and an acceptance for your peace of mind 😀 G'luck and let us know what happened. 🙂
 
i'm confused...maybe y'all get it and can offer some insight...
After interview UCI either accepts their applicants or puts them on hold/on waitlists...so, does UCI reject anyone post-interview or do they just have a ton of movement off of the waitlist?
thanks!
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by aria111:
•i'm confused...maybe y'all get it and can offer some insight...
After interview UCI either accepts their applicants or puts them on hold/on waitlists...so, does UCI reject anyone post-interview or do they just have a ton of movement off of the waitlist?
thanks!•••••They don't reject post-interview. All non-aceptees go onto the alternate list. Only in june, july, august will you get a rejection.
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by california:
•The wait is killing me and I engage in research work in a laboratory that is literally 500 feet away. I guess my only apprehension is being told I am placed in the "Alternate List." I would find those two words to be crushing. On the other hand, I would be so exstatic to hear that I have been accepted. What should I do?•••••BE A MAN!!! Come on! What would Lee do?
Be a MAN! 🙂
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by california:
•The wait is killing me and I engage in research work in a laboratory that is literally 500 feet away. I guess my only apprehension is being told I am placed in the "Alternate List." I would find those two words to be crushing. On the other hand, I would be so exstatic to hear that I have been accepted. What should I do?•••••BE A MAN!!! Come on! What would L.S. do?
Be a MAN! 🙂
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by california:
•The wait is killing me and I engage in research work in a laboratory that is literally 500 feet away. I guess my only apprehension is being told I am placed in the "Alternate List." I would find those two words to be crushing. On the other hand, I would be so exstatic to hear that I have been accepted. What should I do?•••••BE A MAN!!! Come on! What would L.S. do?
Be a MAN! 🙂
 
I am glad I finally got the nerve to walk over to the Admissions Office BECAUSE Gayle wasn't even here today. I spoke to Carla, whose last name I do not know, and she told me that those who interviewed on April 25, 2002, would be reviewed next week. I'm not so sure this is correct information because my faculty mentor contacted Dr. Peterson earlier in the week on my behalf to find out when I would be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Dr. Peterson said, " will be reviewed on Thursday, May 9, 2002." Nevertheless, I still have to wait. Perhaps, I'll receive a phone call from Dr. Peterson over the weekend! I doubt this, but you never know.

Good luck to all those who are still waiting. I hope for the best for all of you.
 
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