Thoughts on Loyola Stritch part 01

[SpeedRacer]

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Speed, you shouldn't have to check this thread until after May 15th. They don't start taking people (Timmy) off the waitlist until then. Glad I could save you some time. 🙂 Peace.

oh i didn't know that. thanks. can someone pm me on the 15th to remind me?
just kidding

 

[USArmyDoc]

Anybody think it would be a good idea for a Jesuit to write a LOR for me to Loyola? I have mixeds feelings about it. It is almost like I am catering to them. However, I know people send additional LOR's all the time. So....what do ya think?

 

[Flopotomist]

Anybody think it would be a good idea for a Jesuit to write a LOR for me to Loyola? I have mixeds feelings about it. It is almost like I am catering to them. However, I know people send additional LOR's all the time. So....what do ya think?

I think that before I could give an opinion on this, I would need to know what this person could say about you. If it is just a neighbor that knows you, I am not sure that s/he has much to say that would help the adcom, but if it is a physician, or somebody involved with you in a community service organization then they might have something important to say. Just my $.02.

 

[USArmyDoc]

I think that before I could give an opinion on this, I would need to know what this person could say about you. If it is just a neighbor that knows you, I am not sure that s/he has much to say that would help the adcom, but if it is a physician, or somebody involved with you in a community service organization then they might have something important to say. Just my $.02.

Its a Jesuit priest that is familiar with my community service work. I am leaning towards no but since it was offered to me I wanted to see what you guys would think.

 

[Flopotomist]

Its a Jesuit priest that is familiar with my community service work. I am leaning towards no but since it was offered to me I wanted to see what you guys would think.

If by "familiar with" you mean he was your supervisor at the soup kitchen, I would say yes. If by "familiar with" you mean that he was a family friend that you talked to about what you were doing, I would say no.

 

[USArmyDoc]

If by "familiar with" you mean he was your supervisor at the soup kitchen, I would say yes. If by "familiar with" you mean that he was a family friend that you talked to about what you were doing, I would say no.

It is the latter. I am afraid they would think I am catering to them.

 

[LaurieB]

Its a Jesuit priest that is familiar with my community service work. I am leaning towards no but since it was offered to me I wanted to see what you guys would think.

If he offered to do it and you think it will be positive, I would go for it. My personal opinion is that you can't go wrong with an extra letter and it will give them a reason to pull up your file again and take a look at it.

My 2 cents!
Laurie

 

[Flopotomist]

If he offered to do it and you think it will be positive, I would go for it. My personal opinion is that you can't go wrong with an extra letter and it will give them a reason to pull up your file again and take a look at it.

My 2 cents!
Laurie

I would say an MSII's $0.02 is worth far more on the advice exchange rate than my $0.02, so I would defer to her. Good luck!

 

[shaholin]

So I called today and they told me that the committee has reviewed my file a couple times, but im still in the running for a interview spot .. **** if they gave me an interview for tomorrow i would be there .. and the more and more i read the schools website .. the more and more I want to go there ... sooo I decided to write a loi .. would anyone be willing to read it for me (im really bad at things like this)

thanks in advance...

neel

 

[barcelona-bound]

i called today, too. same scenario as neel...file reviewed several times since december, always marked for further review/possible interview...then the lady i was talking to said (along these lines), "thanks for calling! now i'll make a note in your file letting the adcom know you're still interested in the school and send it in for another review." !!! some schools don't like when you call...others do??!!??!!
good luck!

 

[TimmyTheWonderD]

81 days and counting...

 

[Stoky44]

Anyone konw if the class is full yet? Are all interviews now for the waitlist? I know a lot of people have been getting waitlisted.

 

[USArmyDoc]

Anyone konw if the class is full yet? Are all interviews now for the waitlist? I know a lot of people have been getting waitlisted.

The class is supposedly still open but I would bet that if you are interviewing its probably for a waitlist.

 

[Flopotomist]

Anyone konw if the class is full yet? Are all interviews now for the waitlist? I know a lot of people have been getting waitlisted.

I think the important thing to remember is how irrelevant this question is. Even if there were no spots left - and you WERE interviewing for a waitlist spot, there is virtually guaranteed to be at least SOME movement from the waitlist - so it isn't like there is no chance. Good luck!!

 

[USArmyDoc]

I think the important thing to remember is how irrelevant this question is. Even if there were no spots left - and you WERE interviewing for a waitlist spot, there is virtually guaranteed to be at least SOME movement from the waitlist - so it isn't like there is no chance. Good luck!!

Exactly, Loyola's waitlist moves alot.

 

[TimmyTheWonderD]

I was told that they are NOT filling the class up right away this year....they only accept 1 or 2 out of every interview day. The rest are rejected or put on the "alternate list". They will continue interviewing until they reach the magic # 140, (or May 15th, whichever happens first I think, but this I am not sure on). Then, come May 15th when other people who were accepted to Loyola withdraw, they pull from the waitlist to keep the class status quo. So, the waitlist will move as people will withdraw, but the % of movement is a crapshoot - could be 10%, could be 30%.

Am I correct? I heard this from a really good source 😉

 

[Stoky44]

I was told that they are NOT filling the class up right away this year....they only accept 1 or 2 out of every interview day. The rest are rejected or put on the "alternate list". They will continue interviewing until they reach the magic # 140, (or May 15th, whichever happens first I think, but this I am not sure on). Then, come May 15th when other people who were accepted to Loyola withdraw, they pull from the waitlist to keep the class status quo. So, the waitlist will move as people will withdraw, but the % of movement is a crapshoot - could be 10%, could be 30%.

Am I correct? I heard this from a really good source 😉

I don't think that there are enough openings left to accept 1 or 2 from each day. I heard that they are holding like 6 spots for the month, and waitlisting many. They accept something 340 students. The magic #140 comes into play with the alternate list. They want to have the class at 140, so how ever many out of ~340 commit on May 15, will be subtracted from 140. This will be how many they pull off the waitlist. They are going to rank the waitlist right after the last interview meetings, I think something like April 24ish. Then they start pulling from the alternate list starting May 15.

 

[ExtraAverage]

I don't think that there are enough openings left to accept 1 or 2 from each day. I heard that they are holding like 6 spots for the month, and waitlisting many. They accept something 340 students. The magic #140 comes into play with the alternate list. They want to have the class at 140, so how ever many out of ~340 commit on May 15, will be subtracted from 140. This will be how many they pull off the waitlist. They are going to rank the waitlist right after the last interview meetings, I think something like April 24ish. Then they start pulling from the alternate list starting May 15.

I think Stoky describes the general process quite accurately.

My guess is that the number of acceptances offered will be a bit lower than 340. Last year it was 290. The year before it was 308. The 340 number may be coming from a few years ago when approximately 35% of the class was taken off the waitlist. For some reason or another, for the last couple of years the number of people taken off the waitlist has been significantly lower (and thus the number of acceptances offered has been lower.) I had the chance to ask Dean Norstrom why she thought this was. Are the last couple years an anomaly or a trend? Her response to both: "I really don't know."

 

[Flopotomist]

Any new word? This thread had fallen to like page 6 or something. Wow.

 

[Stoky44]

Next round of admimissions committee meeting is on March 13. There are a "few" spots open for direct admission, but a lot of alternate list I bet.

 

[ExtraAverage]

Any new word? This thread had fallen to like page 6 or something. Wow.

I was thinking the same thing... oh well, I suppose all good things must come to an end.

 

[kiddo12]

Next round of admimissions committee meeting is on March 13. There are a "few" spots open for direct admission, but a lot of alternate list I bet.

Hi

Do you know if this is for discussion of who to invite for interviews or only for those who have already interviewed?

Thanks much!

 

[Flopotomist]

Hi

Do you know if this is for discussion of who to invite for interviews or only for those who have already interviewed?

Thanks much!

I think this is a smorgasbord (or however you spell that) for all things Loyola.

 

[TimmyTheWonderD]

yes, i am saddened by the fact that this thread hangs out on pages 5 or 6 these days, but until the alternate list starts moving i guess i will just have to live with that 🙁

timmy sends his love 😍

 

[Stoky44]

Hi

Do you know if this is for discussion of who to invite for interviews or only for those who have already interviewed?

Thanks much!

I do not know how the interview invites are picked. I do, however, know that the March 13 meeting is for choosing acceptances/alternate list spots for those who have interviewed already.

 

[jrae]

As it is March and I've not heard from Loyola as well as purchased a condo in iowa city, I officially will not be going to Loyola. Good luck to those of you still holding out for acceptances/interviews......

 

[kiddo12]

As it is March and I've not heard from Loyola as well as purchased a condo in iowa city, I officially will not be going to Loyola. Good luck to those of you still holding out for acceptances/interviews......

best of luck to you too at iowa, jrae

 

[Stoky44]

What do you all think it would take to get a direct admission this late in the game. I heard they were still holding a few spots for this. Would it take a great interview, great GPA, and great MCAT? How much weight is put on one's interview? I see that most people have responded as doing well at their interview, either 8, 9, or 10 out of 10. Does this mean most people do well at their interview, and so they use MCAT and GPA more to make the choice?

For those placed on the alternate list or directly accepted, how did you feel after your interview? How do you think Loyola makes the final choice, what % of the choice is put into interview, MCAT, and GPA?

 

[NC-Davis]

Bump It!

 

[babybichon]

Last application cycle, I interviewed in February ( app wasn't complete until late January) and was put on the waitlist, now it's March and they haven't even invited me to interview... I'm very disappointed at how it's turning out.I thought I'd definitely be invited to interview earlier this app cycle, but no. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed....not holding my breath, though 🙁

 

[Flopotomist]

For those with an acceptance, how long does it take to see what the institutional fin. aid package is going to look?

 

[dopaminophile]

What do you all think it would take to get a direct admission this late in the game. I heard they were still holding a few spots for this. Would it take a great interview, great GPA, and great MCAT? How much weight is put on one's interview? I see that most people have responded as doing well at their interview, either 8, 9, or 10 out of 10. Does this mean most people do well at their interview, and so they use MCAT and GPA more to make the choice?

For those placed on the alternate list or directly accepted, how did you feel after your interview? How do you think Loyola makes the final choice, what % of the choice is put into interview, MCAT, and GPA?

Loyola, much moreso than other schools, is looking for those things beyond GPAs and MCATs. Many people with excellent numbers don't ever get interviews. I really have no idea if they're still giving out straight acceptances, but if they are then the acceptee is a really cool person and has a demonstrated committement to the ideals of medicine and the principles Loyola holds. Does that make sense? People who have done that and have decent numbers are few and far between... but we want 'em here!

 

[dopaminophile]

For those with an acceptance, how long does it take to see what the institutional fin. aid package is going to look?

It ought to be coming to you soon... all of the returning students' materials were due at the beginning of this month and I assume they were waiting for that rush to be over before sending out your material. I'm fairly certain that last year I'd completed all of Loyola's stuff by the first of May.

Have you made the right decision to join us here yet Flop? You know you want to!!

 

[Flopotomist]

It ought to be coming to you soon... all of the returning students' materials were due at the beginning of this month and I assume they were waiting for that rush to be over before sending out your material. I'm fairly certain that last year I'd completed all of Loyola's stuff by the first of May.

Have you made the right decision to join us here yet Flop? You know you want to!!

I am still waiting to hear back from UCLA. A lot of my final decision will end up being a financial one. I don't give a crap about UCLA's supposed better reputation - but the extra $60k to go to Loyola is a lot of money.

 

[brats800]

I am still waiting to hear back from UCLA. A lot of my final decision will end up being a financial one. I don't give a crap about UCLA's supposed better reputation - but the extra $60k to go to Loyola is a lot of money.

i totally understand what you are saying, but remember that you will be wherever you go for 4 years. lots of people in our class turned down cheaper schools to come here. in the end, you'll be paying it back for a long time, regardless of how much you owe. come to loyola. 😉

 

[Flopotomist]

i totally understand what you are saying, but remember that you will be wherever you go for 4 years. lots of people in our class turned down cheaper schools to come here. in the end, you'll be paying it back for a long time, regardless of how much you owe. come to loyola. 😉

I think either way I will be VERY happy (I haven't even heard back from UCLA yet, so this might be a moot point). I recognize that I would be blessed to go to either place.

 

[brats800]

I think either way I will be VERY happy (I haven't even heard back from UCLA yet, so this might be a moot point). I recognize that I would be blessed to go to either place.

no doubt. having to decide which acceptance to choose is a VERY nice decision to have to make. 🙂 and yes, they are both good schools (not that i know much about UCLA, but i'm sure its good too)

 

[Flopotomist]

Friendly reminder to those with acceptances (for those who interviewed earlyish) - those FAA forms and the blue folder has to be in Loyola's fin. aid office by the 31st. NOT post-marked, but actually there. Just a friendly reminder, I almost forgot!

 

[TimmyTheWonderD]

OK, it's REALLY all down to Loyola now!

http://www.mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?myid=03886

I am gonna take all these rejections as a GOOD sign! Fewer schools to choose from in the end, right? Like there would be a choice, DUH! Loyola wins HANDS DOWN!

I am going to the University of South Carolina this weekend....if Loyola spurns my advances, and it comes between CMS and USC SOM, the warm and sunny south will win. BUT - I would brave the arctic cold of Siberia if that was where Loyola was!!!!!!! 😍

 

[gdbaby]

OK, it's REALLY all down to Loyola now!

http://www.mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?myid=03886

I am gonna take all these rejections as a GOOD sign! Fewer schools to choose from in the end, right? Like there would be a choice, DUH! Loyola wins HANDS DOWN!

I am going to the University of South Carolina this weekend....if Loyola spurns my advances, and it comes between CMS and USC SOM, the warm and sunny south will win. BUT - I would brave the arctic cold of Siberia if that was where Loyola was!!!!!!! 😍

Good luck on the 15th Timmy! I hope this has Loyola shaking in their boots!

 

[Vitriol]

I just got an interview call for next saturday. I am sure that this is for a wait list spot, but since i live in chi town, it cant hurt. let me know any advice you guys may have! thanks!

 

[Stoky44]

I just got an interview call for next saturday. I am sure that this is for a wait list spot, but since i live in chi town, it cant hurt. let me know any advice you guys may have! thanks!

I interviewed in late Feb, and heard from Dean Norstrom directly, that this year they did something different and have a "few select spots" open for direct admission each month. She said that they want to change the fact they had to turn people down that were really good just because of the time of the year. However, keep in mind there are only a FEW spots open, and most are placed on the alternate list. But just go do your best, and you don't know what can happen. I am, as many others are at SDN, are hanging onto the fact that Stritch takes around 10-20% of their class from the waitlist. My only advice is to be yourself, try to get them to see who you really are. If you try and be someone else or tell them what they want, they will see through it.

 

[Stoky44]

Repeated post, please delete.

 

[Flopotomist]

I just got an interview call for next saturday. I am sure that this is for a wait list spot, but since i live in chi town, it cant hurt. let me know any advice you guys may have! thanks!

Wait list spots are not consolation prizes that have no value. Many people holding spots now will be giving them up to go to other schools creating a good number of new spots (10-20 new spots in years past from what I understand). Advice for the actual interview - relax, and be yourself. The Loyola interview is VERY low-key and informal, so don't stress out about it. Good luck!

 

[Stoky44]

The admin committee meets again today. Probably awaitlist spot (which I hear there is still a chance to come off of) coming my way, hopefully not a rejection. Though, I thought I did very well at my interview, so I can't see getting a flat rejection because if they were going to reject me based on MCAT/GPA, wouldn't they do that pre-interview? Send good thoughts to the admin com and wish me good luck today.

 

[TimmyTheWonderD]

.....waitlist spot (which I hear there is still a chance to come off of).....

hmmm...do I detect the need for a "Loyola Stritch Alternate List" thread 😉
I know I would not mind company during the AGONY of waiting until May 15th to know anything!!!!


GOOD Stoky!! 😉

 

[el1984]

can anyone tell me the email address of dean norstrom? she should be the person i address a letter of interest to, right?

 

[Flopotomist]

can anyone tell me the email address of dean norstrom? she should be the person i address a letter of interest to, right?

I would say mail it hardcopy - email is so informal and kinda tacky. Just my thoughts.

 

[Tella45]

This is my first post here but i've been skimming this thread and have found it pretty helpful. I got called last week for an interview which I have in a couple days and was wondering if anyone had any pointers/tips/advice specific to loyola to help me out at this point. I know it's late in the interview season and this is my first choice so I'm hoping to really slam my interview 🙂 Thanks in advance!

 

[brats800]

just read this thread and review the questions you could get asked on the interview feedback site. feel free to ask any specific questions, but its a pretty relaxed day (easy for me to say, now that my first year there is almost over...)