TUCOM-NV Discussion Thread 2009-2010

[Skippygonenuts]

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Things are probably kind of stressful for Oscar, too. I believe this is his first year as director of admissions (although he had some other role before) and he's got all of us, stressed out and calling him all the time for answers that he doesn't really have.

I don't expect it to be the funnest job but it would be nice to get some answers even if the answer is simply "we don't know".

Just feels like we keep getting tossed from one date to the next while they're not fully being honest with us..

 

[Skippygonenuts]

...P.S. I'm thinkin that it may be a little different from last year, but who knows. I can't imagine that anyone who submitted the second deposit though is still holding onto another acceptance and trying to decide between schools. There are probably some who are holding waitlist spots that they would rather have, and those would be the seats you are waiting on, if they get accepted off their desired waitlists. That's just my guess. Unless you guys have just been misinformed and the class actually isn't full at this time!

keep in mind that touro has a 90% refund policy on the deposits so people hold onto their seats for whatever reason, knowing it's only gonna cost them about $200-300.

 

[melissaliss]

keep in mind that touro has a 90% refund policy on the deposits so people hold onto their seats for whatever reason, knowing it's only gonna cost them about $200-300.

I thought the refund only applied up until May 15th.

 

[Skippygonenuts]

I thought the refund only applied up until May 15th.

you may be right..but i sure hope your not....i'm pretty sure i remember susan telling me a few months ago that people hold on to their spot all the way until the end of July just because they know they could get their money back...

thats the only reason i still have some hope...please tell me this information wasn't "revoked" as well..

 

[Namelus]

you may be right..but i sure hope your not....i'm pretty sure i remember susan telling me a few months ago that people hold on to their spot all the way until the end of July just because they know they could get their money back...

thats the only reason i still have some hope...please tell me this information wasn't "revoked" as well..

Well a deposit is a deposit, not a fee right. So I would think that you could get refunded. They were actually very vague about this at the interview day and said it was case by case? What are the legal ramifications of calling it a deposit vs. a fee?

 

[MN premed]

you may be right..but i sure hope your not....i'm pretty sure i remember susan telling me a few months ago that people hold on to their spot all the way until the end of July just because they know they could get their money back...

thats the only reason i still have some hope...please tell me this information wasn't "revoked" as well..

Yea I suppose maybe some people will do that. I don't know why someone would go through the trouble of giving the second deposit of $1000 though if they have another acceptance, but I guess if they are really undecided still and have the money available to tie up then they would!

 

[Skippygonenuts]

Yea I suppose maybe some people will do that. I don't know why someone would go through the trouble of giving the second deposit of $1000 though if they have another acceptance, but I guess if they are really undecided still and have the money available to tie up then they would!

and i'm counting on 30 out of the 135 students to be holding other acceptances lol

 

[melissaliss]

Well a deposit is a deposit, not a fee right. So I would think that you could get refunded. They were actually very vague about this at the interview day and said it was case by case? What are the legal ramifications of calling it a deposit vs. a fee?

Good question on that one. Perhaps it's considered a deposit because it is counted towards tuition? Most schools do not offer refunds, I know that much. It's actually kind of annoying right now if the deposit is refundable. That makes the other students much more likely to hold onto multiple acceptances and isn't fair to us. I'm not sure I like that policy. I tried to look in the college information book about this but it didn't have a date listed for a deposit refund. In fact, next to "refundable by:" it's just blank.

 

[Skippygonenuts]

just checked with susan...she said the entire tuition deposit is refundable except for $100...

Shes not 100% sure until when...she told me to confirm with Oscar, but she said she is pretty sure its through july... 🙁 woopty doo

 

[melissaliss]

just checked with susan...she said the entire tuition deposit is refundable except for $100...

Shes not 100% sure until when...she told me to confirm with Oscar, but she said she is pretty sure its through july... 🙁 woopty doo

So May 15th basically meant nothing anyway?

 

[Skippygonenuts]

So May 15th basically meant nothing anyway?

Only meant something to those who have definitively made a decision

 

[MN premed]

So May 15th basically meant nothing anyway?

Only meant something to those who have definitively made a decision

I still think it meant something. Most people aren't going to dish out another $1000 bucks if they have another acceptance and don't intend on going to Touro. Most people would just make themselves decide by that date so they can start getting housing and moving arrangements set up wherever. It seems silly that many people would hold out on their decision and end up rushing their plans in the summer.

I'm sure some people will do this but my guess is that the majority of people wouldn't have done that. So that date is probably the date that a large amount of the class became full of students planning to attend.

 

[DbDan]

just checked with susan...she said the entire tuition deposit is refundable except for $100...

Shes not 100% sure until when...she told me to confirm with Oscar, but she said she is pretty sure its through july... 🙁 woopty doo

I knew that it was refundable except for $100 by NV law but I thought that it was only until a certain date. Man, that both gives me hope and makes me want to cry at the same time.

O well though, I re-applied earlier today to both AMCAS and AACOMAS. Going to cost me an arm and a leg to go through this whole process again but in the end the few grand it will cost me to do it is a drop in the bucket compared to the 200k+ i'll be in debt when its all said and done

 

[Skippygonenuts]

I knew that it was refundable except for $100 by NV law but I thought that it was only until a certain date. Man, that both gives me hope and makes me want to cry at the same time.

O well though, I re-applied earlier today to both AMCAS and AACOMAS. Going to cost me an arm and a leg to go through this whole process again but in the end the few grand it will cost me to do it is a drop in the bucket compared to the 200k+ i'll be in debt when its all said and done

Haha I almost thought u were gonna say it's nothing compared to how much you'll be making but that was a nice curveball lol

 

[melissaliss]

I knew that it was refundable except for $100 by NV law but I thought that it was only until a certain date. Man, that both gives me hope and makes me want to cry at the same time.

O well though, I re-applied earlier today to both AMCAS and AACOMAS. Going to cost me an arm and a leg to go through this whole process again but in the end the few grand it will cost me to do it is a drop in the bucket compared to the 200k+ i'll be in debt when its all said and done

Yeah, I'm bummed because I don't have anything to change or add to my app. Not sure what to do about it. I'm waiting on a fee waiver from AACOMAS though, even though it only makes the first 3 schools free, almost all of the schools waive their supplemental app fees with the waiver. I'm not eligible for AMCAS waiver though. Boo. Going to cost me $1000 for both primaries if/when I decide to submit.

 

[nutellaicecream]

Yeah, I'm bummed because I don't have anything to change or add to my app. Not sure what to do about it. I'm waiting on a fee waiver from AACOMAS though, even though it only makes the first 3 schools free, almost all of the schools waive their supplemental app fees with the waiver. I'm not eligible for AMCAS waiver though. Boo. Going to cost me $1000 for both primaries if/when I decide to submit.

I'm probably going to reapply. I don't have a whole lot to add to my app, but it would be better to add something relatively new than nothing at all. I'm sure there's enough time to get involved in some sort of new volunteer activity or something. Schools would like to see what you are currently doing on top of the things you've already done. There could also be things on your application that could be stronger, so it wouldn't hurt to take a good look at your previous app and see what could possibly be improved upon.

 

[DbDan]

Yeah, I'm bummed because I don't have anything to change or add to my app. Not sure what to do about it. I'm waiting on a fee waiver from AACOMAS though, even though it only makes the first 3 schools free, almost all of the schools waive their supplemental app fees with the waiver. I'm not eligible for AMCAS waiver though. Boo. Going to cost me $1000 for both primaries if/when I decide to submit.

Ya, I haven't done TOO much since my last application. I've basically just worked and picked up a new job. Between the two now I have over 2000 hours of clinical experience so thats a major major change in my app. I also looked over last years app and modified the presentation of my extra-cirriculars and added things I just assumed weren't important. Plus a new DO letter and a new clinical letter. I only took one class to improve my abysmal GPA that kept me out last year but I also am enrolled in one for summer. A's in both will get my sGPA up over the 3.0 mark with grade replacement Regardless, hopefully we all get off the waitlist for this year. I can dream can't I? lol

 

[melissaliss]

I know I'm getting ahead of myself here, but if we re-apply to Touro, do we also have to re-submit the secondary and re-send our transcripts (if we have not taken any additional coursework)? Has anyone spoken to Oscar regarding re-application? Do they physically compare last year's app with this year's? I am concerned about submitting an identical app ... did you guys change your PS? I feel that my PS is the strongest part of my primary and I really don't want to change it. I also am torn between waiting a month to submit the primaries to get involved in another activity, or submitting a nearly identical app now just to insure it's in super early. Which is more important?

 

[Skippygonenuts]

I'm on the same boat...my PS was hands down the strongest part of my app n I don't wanna mess with it but would it be disasterous to submit the same one?

I plan on making some edits in the work and extracurricular section but there's really nothing else in my life that changed from January to June..

 

[PersiannDO]

On a separate note:

I know a lot of people on the wait-list received invitations for Touro's Masters in Health Sciences program....

...Does it mean anything if we DIDNT receive that invitation? Does anyone know how they assessed who gets this invitation and who doesn't?

This wait is brutal...

 

[daithi]

I just got an email from Oscar with my waitlist status. Might as well submit my app for next year.

 

[DbDan]

I just got an email from Oscar with my waitlist status. Might as well submit my app for next year.

I thought Oscar is out of the office until Thursday. They also weren't releasing waitlist status until June 15th and that was via mail. How'd you wind up with an e-mail? I e-mailed Oscar early last week and still haven't heard back from him. Sorry to hear though, welcome to the re-app club

On another note, the fact that there could be such late movement due to the fact that the deposit is refundable could actually work to our advantage. While it would suck to wait that long, if they have ~5 spots in Mid July they are going to have to go through a huge number of people to fill those spots because the majority who were waiting to get off other waitlists likely already would have and therefor have already put down deposits at other schools. Just an optimistic way of looking at it I suppose.

 

[melissaliss]

I'm on the same boat...my PS was hands down the strongest part of my app n I don't wanna mess with it but would it be disasterous to submit the same one?

I plan on making some edits in the work and extracurricular section but there's really nothing else in my life that changed from January to June..

Me too. =( I really don't know about the P.S. I mean, they'd definitely remember mine if they'd read it before. But is that necessarily bad? Would they have my interviewers comments from this year? Because I think my interview went exceptionally well. Are these things we can ask Oscar? Maybe after we get our ranking? I'm going to wait to submit til after June 15th anyway. Skippy, I know you said you're broke, did you look into getting an AACOMAS fee waiver?

Does anyone know other good things to get involved with that would look good on the app? I've already shadowed a D.O. a year ago for 3 months, I volunteered in a hospital for 2 years, did undergrad research. I work full-time, but I'm a teacher, so it's not medically related. I also did some other volunteer work in undergrad that was not health-related. My undergrad GPA was a 3.4 so my grades were alright. I don't really know what else I could do that would strengthen my app (besides re-taking the MCAT which is quite of out of the question now). Suggestions?

 

[PersiannDO]

I just got an email from Oscar with my waitlist status. Might as well submit my app for next year.

I'm so confused at this point...

Did you ask Oscar for your status? Does it seem like an email he's sending out to everyone or is it specified to you inquiring your status....

And does anyone know how they decided who gets invited to their MHS program, and who doesnt? Did anyone from accepted waitlist get invited to it?

 

[melissaliss]

I'm so confused at this point...

Did you ask Oscar for your status? Does it seem like an email he's sending out to everyone or is it specified to you inquiring your status....

And does anyone know how they decided who gets invited to their MHS program, and who doesnt? Did anyone from accepted waitlist get invited to it?

I'm confused about him saying he got his status too ...

I did not get invited to the MHS program and I am on the accepted wait list. I remember in my interview that Oscar said if you get invited, it probably means you are on the middle or low wait lists. I could be wrong though. And who knows anymore since all the information seems to be changing all the time.

 

[daithi]

I didn't ask. In fact I haven't sent him anything since I told him my spring grades in mid-May.They sent the same email 2xs in 10 mins.

 

[nutellaicecream]

There's a lot of good info on the reapplicant thread and faq: http://more.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=358485

It's generally not a good idea to send an identical application. If you reapply, you resubmit everything. I doubt that they carry previous applications over.

I'm sure you can talk about new activities on your secondaries or in interviews. I think Touro-NV does take notice if you're a reapplicant--if I remember correctly, there's a box on the secondary application that asks if you are one.

I am on the waitlist and did not get invited into the MHS program. I'm not sure if there's a whole lot of significance with where you are on the waitlist if you're invited or not but maybe if you might be a good fit with it. I'm not (at least I don't think so), so maybe that's why I didn't get invited.

 

[melissaliss]

I didn't ask. In fact I haven't sent him anything since I told him my spring grades in mid-May.They sent the same email 2xs in 10 mins.

You could be a little more specific ... what did the email say?

 

[melissaliss]

There's a lot of good info on the reapplicant thread and faq: http://more.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=358485

It's generally not a good idea to send an identical application. If you reapply, you resubmit everything. I doubt that they carry previous applications over.

I'm sure you can talk about new activities on your secondaries or in interviews. I think Touro-NV does take notice if you're a reapplicant--if I remember correctly, there's a box on the secondary application that asks if you are one.

I am on the waitlist and did not get invited into the MHS program. I'm not sure if there's a whole lot of significance with where you are on the waitlist if you're invited or not but maybe if you might be a good fit with it. I'm not (at least I don't think so), so maybe that's why I didn't get invited.

Both AACOMAS and AMCAS carry your application over in its entirety, with the exception of school designations, letters, and transcripts. I know it's not good to submit an identical app, but I don't have anything to change???

 

[PersiannDO]

You could be a little more specific ... what did the email say?

Yes could you please specify what the e-mail said! This would benefit us all...

 

[DbDan]

Both AACOMAS and AMCAS carry your application over in its entirety, with the exception of school designations, letters, and transcripts. I know it's not good to submit an identical app, but I don't have anything to change???

How late did you apply last year? You don't have updated ECs at all? What have you been doing the last year? I'm not trying to be harsh just throwing questions out there. Even if you have been working at the same job, if its clinical you could tailor your PS to include some more of the experiences you've gotten through it. I find it hard to believe that most people don't have a single thing to change on their application from last year. Did you present yourself as well as you could have? Did you leave off something you thought was irrelevant but would make you seem more well rounded? The majority of the changes to my application were cosmetic. I did re-write my personal statement to focus on clinical experience as my drive for pursuing medicine rather than what I wrote about last year based upon my experiences but other than that it was adding things like the extensive community service I did through my fraternity as separate ECs, adding IM sports, adding a weight lifting club I had helped found, a scholarship I got my first year that I had forgotten about, etc.

I also changed my job's descriptions focusing on new things I had dealt with and new roles I had taken on. I included some conferences that I had been an attendee at, etc. All things that SHOULD have been on last year's application but were not because I was poorly prepared and rushed to submit in Early August after my MCAT scores came back. Basically, go over your application, if you think it is absolutely perfect, submit again. I'd add something to your personal statement speaking to what you've done the last year though just to show you haven't been sitting around doing nothing.

 

[DbDan]

I didn't ask. In fact I haven't sent him anything since I told him my spring grades in mid-May.They sent the same email 2xs in 10 mins.

Could you copy/paste the e-mail removing any important information? It'd help us out to give us an idea of what we are looking for.

 

[melissaliss]

How late did you apply last year? You don't have updated ECs at all? What have you been doing the last year? I'm not trying to be harsh just throwing questions out there. Even if you have been working at the same job, if its clinical you could tailor your PS to include some more of the experiences you've gotten through it. I find it hard to believe that most people don't have a single thing to change on their application from last year. Did you present yourself as well as you could have? Did you leave off something you thought was irrelevant but would make you seem more well rounded? The majority of the changes to my application were cosmetic. I did re-write my personal statement to focus on clinical experience as my drive for pursuing medicine rather than what I wrote about last year based upon my experiences but other than that it was adding things like the extensive community service I did through my fraternity as separate ECs, adding IM sports, adding a weight lifting club I had helped found, a scholarship I got my first year that I had forgotten about, etc.

I also changed my job's descriptions focusing on new things I had dealt with and new roles I had taken on. I included some conferences that I had been an attendee at, etc. All things that SHOULD have been on last year's application but were not because I was poorly prepared and rushed to submit in Early August after my MCAT scores came back. Basically, go over your application, if you think it is absolutely perfect, submit again. I'd add something to your personal statement speaking to what you've done the last year though just to show you haven't been sitting around doing nothing.

Certainly valid questions. I've just been continuing the same volunteer position at a hospital and I've worked my job as a teacher. I sing in a choir now? That's about the only new thing. I did add some things to the job descriptions like you did. What I learned from the job and so forth, since I realized I was asked about that during the interviews. I submitted secondaries in January 2010. Submitted the primary in late November, it was verified December 24th (for AACOMAS). I was wait listed at all the schools I interviewed at, but my interviews were all Feb/March. Entirely too late. I also maxed out the space for ECs, awards, etc. on both primaries and I used all the space on the PS. Should I state somewhere at the end of the PS that I've continued to work/volunteer and talk about the wait list? I'd have to cut words from some other part of it.

 

[nutellaicecream]

Both AACOMAS and AMCAS carry your application over in its entirety, with the exception of school designations, letters, and transcripts. I know it's not good to submit an identical app, but I don't have anything to change???

What I meant by the schools not carrying over your application is that the schools themselves aren't going to pull out last year's application (primary, secondary, LORs, transcripts, etc.) to evaluate you this year. They could look at it to see how much you've changed, but I would imagine it's up to the discretion of the schools.

 

[DbDan]

Certainly valid questions. I've just been continuing the same volunteer position at a hospital and I've worked my job as a teacher. I sing in a choir now? That's about the only new thing. I did add some things to the job descriptions like you did. What I learned from the job and so forth, since I realized I was asked about that during the interviews. I submitted secondaries in January 2010. Submitted the primary in late November, it was verified December 24th (for AACOMAS). I was wait listed at all the schools I interviewed at, but my interviews were all Feb/March. Entirely too late. I also maxed out the space for ECs, awards, etc. on both primaries and I used all the space on the PS. Should I state somewhere at the end of the PS that I've continued to work/volunteer and talk about the wait list? I'd have to cut words from some other part of it.

Was your PS based around your volunteer position? Have you had any patient contact that has touched you personally or was relatable and strengthened your pursuit of being a physician? Was there anything while you were teaching that helped this?

For me, my old PS was about a change in majors, interest in the technical side of the body and how that interest progressed with research/clinical experience. This year it is based upon a singular experience I have had working at the hospital where I had a patient who pulled intercranial electrodes out of his brain. It then continued into the importance and what i've learned from my clinical experiences and how that has prepared me to be a doctor and how it has affected my pursuit

As for the ECs, did you have anything that was redundant or could be combined so that you had the space to include choir? Maybe 2 hobbies, 2 leadership positions for the same club, etc. that you could distinguish between the two in the description? If you have something similar to choir or if it was something you resumed (even if not with the same group) you could add it to an old EC.

 

[DbDan]

What I meant by the schools not carrying over your application is that the schools themselves aren't going to pull out last year's application (primary, secondary, LORs, transcripts, etc.) to evaluate you this year. They could look at it to see how much you've changed, but I would imagine it's up to the discretion of the schools.

From what I hear it is up to the schools. Some schools prefer to evaluate you as an entirely new applicant. Others will look at you and see what has changed from the past year that makes you more qualified now.

Schools that you did not apply to last year will not be able to access your previous application so it may also be a good idea to add a school or two you did not consider the second go-round.

 

[DbDan]

For those wondering this is what the letter looks like:

Thank you for applying and interviewing for the Osteopathic Medicine Program at Touro University Nevada (TUN). The Admissions Committee would like to inform you of your status at our institution. You are currently in the Medium-Wait List category. For the last five years, Touro has not admitted any student from the Medium-Wait List category.

At TUN, we consider a number of variables in our decision. Those include MCAT, science hours, science GPA, overall GPA, admission interview, recommendations, and extracurricular activities. If you wish to apply for next year's class, we will begin reviewing applications starting in August 2010 and will start selecting students to interview as early as September. Please be advised that the Admissions Committee will not be able to provide any feedback or recommendations on how to improve your application for the next cycle. We encourage you to seek the feedback of your academic advisor and/or professor.

We are honored you chose our campus as a place to pursue your dream to become an osteopathic physician.


Well... best of luck to you all. Looks like Bradenton is my last choice.

 

[melissaliss]

For those wondering this is what the letter looks like:

Thank you for applying and interviewing for the Osteopathic Medicine Program at Touro University Nevada (TUN). The Admissions Committee would like to inform you of your status at our institution. You are currently in the Medium-Wait List category. For the last five years, Touro has not admitted any student from the Medium-Wait List category.

At TUN, we consider a number of variables in our decision. Those include MCAT, science hours, science GPA, overall GPA, admission interview, recommendations, and extracurricular activities. If you wish to apply for next year's class, we will begin reviewing applications starting in August 2010 and will start selecting students to interview as early as September. Please be advised that the Admissions Committee will not be able to provide any feedback or recommendations on how to improve your application for the next cycle. We encourage you to seek the feedback of your academic advisor and/or professor.

We are honored you chose our campus as a place to pursue your dream to become an osteopathic physician.


Well... best of luck to you all. Looks like Bradenton is my last choice.

Sorry to hear the news, Dan. Are others getting emails as well? Only for medium wait list individuals? At least you are ahead of the game with your primaries. Good luck with LECOM. Strange that they won't provide feedback. I thought most schools were willing to tell you what aspect of your application could be improved.

My PS was about dealing with my brother's serious mental illness and drug abuse and suicide attempt and how I came to terms with it after shadowing a doctor who specialized in treating people with addictions. I also tied in my volunteer work and my exposure to medicine as a young child (my mother is an RN). I tied all of those things together to showcase my unique set of skills (e.g. compassion, etc). I have had meaningful experiences as a volunteer but there have been only a few specific ones and I have used them as examples in secondaries and interviews. I added 5 new D.O. schools and 8 new MD schools in addition to all of the same D.O. schools (8) and 6 repeat MD schools from last year. Going to cost a fortune when all is said and done.

 

[daithi]

Sorry, I work as a patient tech at a children's hospital and have been on the floor since 2 pm.

 

[nutellaicecream]

Here's mine.

Thank you for applying and interviewing for the Osteopathic Medicine Program at Touro University Nevada. The Admissions Committee would like to inform you of your status at our institution. You are currently in the High-Wait List category.

The High-Wait List students have been ranked by the Admissions Committee. The rank will not be shared with any aspiring student. The Admissions staff will not share information with you nor respond to questions about your status. In the event there is an open seat for the Osteopathic Medicine Program, I will personally invite you to be part of the entering Class of 2010.

At TUN, we consider a number of variables in our decision. Those include MCAT, science hours, science GPA, overall GPA, admission interview, recommendations, and extracurricular activities. The Admissions committee would like to encourage you to apply early for next year's class. We will begin reviewing applications starting in August 2010 and will start selecting students to interview as early as September.

We are honored you chose our campus as a place to pursue your dream to become an osteopathic physician.

 

[10guagesyringe]

got the same letter.

saying im in the high waitlist.

what does this mean? is there still a accepted waitlist above us?

 

[nutellaicecream]

got the same letter.

saying im in the high waitlist.

what does this mean? is there still a accepted waitlist above us?

accepted waitlist > high waitlist

 

[DbDan]

got the same letter.

saying im in the high waitlist.

what does this mean? is there still a accepted waitlist above us?

Accepted waitlist students are already accepted, they just need to have a seat open in order to get in. Oscar said in our interviews they normally get well into the high-waitlist category but who knows what will happen this year. Good luck to you all. I'll be pulling for you and maybe see you on campus when I hopefully interview again next year

 

[10guagesyringe]

sounds good.

hopefully.

to take my mind off things I am re-watching the Episode of Family Matters where Steve, Richie, and 3 J transform - genetically mind you - into Martial Art Superstar Bruce Lee. Only there after thwarting a gang up rising at a local park in a mid level income suburban area of Chicago, Illinois.

90's television at its finest.

 

[Skippygonenuts]

...Skippy, I know you said you're broke, did you look into getting an AACOMAS fee waiver?....

I actually haven't...what do you need to qualify for it? If it's anything like FAFSA then I could count myself out because since my parents own 3 houses, I don't get nothing...however they don't see that my PARENTS own the houses...I get squat..

 

[caliboy510]

I got the same exact email as nutellaicecream...high waitlist with no rank. this is kinda frustrating

 

[melissaliss]

I actually haven't...what do you need to qualify for it? If it's anything like FAFSA then I could count myself out because since my parents own 3 houses, I don't get nothing...however they don't see that my PARENTS own the houses...I get squat..

Lol. My parents own like 3 houses too. 4 actually. But I filled out the FAFSA as an independent and my EFC is 0. How old are you? If you were born before January 1st, 1987 you don't have to put your parents' financial information on the FAFSA. I believe even if you are younger, since you will be working on a graduate-level degree, you don't have to provide your parents' information. FAFSA is also independent from your IRS tax status, so even if your parents claim you as a dependent on their taxes, you may still file the FAFSA as an independent. Here's a link to the dependency questionaire: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/fotw1011/WorksheetServlet?locale=en_US&wstype=WSDEP

It doesn't really say who will be granted a fee waiver, but it doesn't take much effort to try to get one. Here's the info: http://www.aacom.org/InfoFor/applicants/Pages/FeeWaiver.aspx
It seems very helpful for supplemental applications, since nearly all of the schools accept fee waivers for their supplementals. Unfortunately, AMCAS doesn't use FAFSA for their fee waiver application and they want your parents' financial information.

 

[DbDan]

Lol. My parents own like 3 houses too. 4 actually. But I filled out the FAFSA as an independent and my EFC is 0. How old are you? If you were born before January 1st, 1987 you don't have to put your parents' financial information on the FAFSA. I believe even if you are younger, since you will be working on a graduate-level degree, you don't have to provide your parents' information. FAFSA is also independent from your IRS tax status, so even if your parents claim you as a dependent on their taxes, you may still file the FAFSA as an independent. Here's a link to the dependency questionaire: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/fotw1011/WorksheetServlet?locale=en_US&wstype=WSDEP

It doesn't really say who will be granted a fee waiver, but it doesn't take much effort to try to get one. Here's the info: http://www.aacom.org/InfoFor/applicants/Pages/FeeWaiver.aspx
It seems very helpful for supplemental applications, since nearly all of the schools accept fee waivers for their supplementals. Unfortunately, AMCAS doesn't use FAFSA for their fee waiver application and they want your parents' financial information.

Wow, wish I woulda known all that. I would have applied for a fee waiver. Too late now though I suppose.

 

[navyrick]

I just withdrew...got $2900 back from my $3000 deposit.

Hope one of you gets my spot!!!! I'll check to see if someone does!

Good luck!

 

[DbDan]

I just withdrew...got $2900 back from my $3000 deposit.

Hope one of you gets my spot!!!! I'll check to see if someone does!

Good luck!

😱 got the PCOM call eh? Congrats 👍