UC Davis!

[voltron77]

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It is a long secondary application to go through and fully complete. But, it is well worth it. As someone who just recently completed and submitted the secondary, I am relieved that it is over. Time to move on to the next secondary application! Good luck everyone and hang in there!!! 🙂

 

[kwanny]

Wow, UC Davis invited only 374 applicants for interview last year... 😱 damn... think it's time to rewrite my essays... 😀

 

[voltron77]

From an email I received from Ed Dagang, Director of Admissions at the UC Davis School of Medicine:

"Probably 1/2 to 2/3 of applicants receive a secondary
application. From this pool 400-500 folks will be asked to interview.
Then approx. 200 folks are admitted to fill the 93 seats in the
entering
class."

Hope this helps. Good luck!!!

🙂

 

[Violinrose]

The supplemental asks about activities and cumulative hours spent in each for the last four years, probably because they assume most applicants have just graduated from college or are in their senior year. I graduated two years ago and a couple of my activities were a significant part of my freshman and sophmore years. But if I go by the 4 year rule, I can still mention them, but their significance will be practically nill.

I would ask Davis but I have had issues with contacting them and getting responses from them. Any suggestions?

 

[Arista.MD]

I am in the exact same situation here. I think Davis really discriminates between traditional and non traditional applicants here. I called them and the person I talked to told me that the admission committee ONLY cares about things done in the last 4 years, and that was all. The other stuff will appear on the AMCAS application, but this person made it seem like the stuff on the AMCAS is not going to matter that much. I have tried to explain this person that the stuff I did during my freshman and sophomore years were very important part of my application and that I could not do the same thing again later in my life because I did not have that much time to put into it anymore. This person told me straight that "it did not matter". So I guess that they really have too many applicants and feel that they have enough people to choose from right now, so they will not bother with non traditional applicants any more. It feels a little bit wrong to work so much, for so long and then for the school to say " sorry we don't care if you did these things, if you did not do them when we wanted you to do it". It makes you wonder if you want to go to this type of school anyway.

 

[voltron77]

Originally posted by Ubu
Just as a warning to you guys...I sent in the paper copy of my application on Aug 23 along with my application fee and submitted my application online on Aug 25th. According to the website, neither my check nor my letters have been received as of today (Sept 2) so I called the office to ask about the status. Luckily, the letters were received (although my online status says it was not) but my check was not. Now get this... THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF MY SECONDARY APPLICATION BEING SUBMITTED!!! I told them that I had submitted my application both online as well as through snail mail...so even though the online status says that my application was submitted...IT WAS NOT!!! Obviously since they don't have my paper application, they don't have my check either. I am just writing this to let you know that even though you have submitted the online application, they still may not have it!! Please call and check to make sure they have received your application.

For those of you who are curious...I am just planning to submit another paper copy of my application (luckily I copied it before I sent it out!!). In regards to the application fee...I am not supposed to send another one out until further notice (because they have having delays in receiving mail).

Again..please call and check your status!! (the admissions office will probably hate me for telling everyone to call. 😀 )

Ubu,

Did you get an email today from Ed Dagang? I got one saying that my fees were received.

 

[Eraserhead]

I didn't really take the "past four years" thing so literally. I've been out of school for a year now, and included everything during my freshman and sophomore years of undergraduate work because those jobs/activities carried over to my junior and senior years in all but one case. I only wrote essays explicitly about things I did during the last four years, but essentially the hour values came straight from my AMCAS application.

I think this just means like if you graduated recently you can't include something you did in high school or between high school and college. If you are 30 years old, it means don't include college activities just what you've been doing since college, or during your post-bacc program, etc.

 

[Violinrose]

DoctorKevin, it is just that they keep mentioning "last four years" and underline it with emphasis. Anyways, danadoc and doctorkevin, thank you for the advice. I will go ahead with the last four years rule. But I do wish that they would not be so restrictive. It is not fair to slightly non-traditional students. I guess we will just have to do our best to get in and change things from the inside!!! 🙂

 

[qwerty one]

Originally posted by voltron77
Ubu,

Did you get an email today from Ed Dagang? I got one saying that my fees were received.

I got that email yesterday as well. Have they received your LORs? I sent those in 3 weeks ago, and still no word.

 

[voltron77]

I know for a fact that they received one of the 3 and the other 2 should be there as well but on my status page, there is no check mark next to my LOR's being there. I am going to email them later today to ask.🙂

 

[Ubu]

voltron - still no word about my fees being received. I am really worried now. I sent in a second copy of my application certified mail with signature confirmation...it's supposed to get there either today or tomorrow. Still not sure what to do about the application fee though... 🙁 If they never got my first application, then they never got my check....

 

[Ubu]

Just called the admissions office. So apparently the best time to call to ask about your status is on Weds because the people who sort though all the mail and update your status come in on Mondays and Tuesdays. On Weds, your status should be updated for the week. The neither the first nor the second copy of my application has been received yet.....I hope this is not a bad sign!!!

 

[voltron77]

Originally posted by Ubu
voltron - still no word about my fees being received. I am really worried now. I sent in a second copy of my application certified mail with signature confirmation...it's supposed to get there either today or tomorrow. Still not sure what to do about the application fee though... 🙁 If they never got my first application, then they never got my check....

Ubu, just as I was about to call and see if my LOR's were all received....I got an email saying that my LOR's and application fee have been received!!! My application file is now complete and is under active consideration!!!!! Yipee!!!!! Good luck!!!!!

 

[Moskeeto]

Originally posted by Ubu
Just called the admissions office. So apparently the best time to call to ask about your status is on Weds because the people who sort though all the mail and update your status come in on Mondays and Tuesdays. On Weds, your status should be updated for the week. The neither the first nor the second copy of my application has been received yet.....I hope this is not a bad sign!!!

hey check with your bank to see if they cashed your check for the application fee. thats a good way to tell if they've gotten it.

 

[Ubu]

just wanted to bump this thread to see where everyone else is in the process. I've checked with my bank and UCD still has not cashed my check...which makes me really paranoid that the whole package was lost. my second copy of the paper application still has not been received either... 🙁

 

[voltron77]

Originally posted by Ubu
just wanted to bump this thread to see where everyone else is in the process. I've checked with my bank and UCD still has not cashed my check...which makes me really paranoid that the whole package was lost. my second copy of the paper application still has not been received either... 🙁

Sorry to hear that Ubu 🙁 . Try to give them a call on Wednesday (the day where all the recent mailed items should be sorted through and entered online) and see if that gives you the answers you are looking for. If they don't have it by then, ask them if you should re-send things, maybe via certified mail or something where someone has to sign for it, and hopefully things will be cleared up. Hoping you don't have to go through all that extra work and trouble. Stay positive and have a good weekend!!!!!!

 

[Nefertari]

Slowly going insane here writing about how these 6 EC's "will make you a better physician". Any company?

Congrats to those of you who are done with this sadistic secondary!

 

[voltron77]

Originally posted by Nefertari
Slowly going insane here writing about how these 6 EC's "will make you a better physician". Any company?

Congrats to those of you who are done with this sadistic secondary!

Good luck with this secondary application Nefertari!!!! It is so worth it once it you are done with this secondary application!!!!! Hang in there!!!!!!

 

[Nefertari]

About 2 hours away from finishing, but it's only taken me something like two weeks. Losing steam since this is 2ndary #21 for me. Thanks for the little cheer, voltron! 🙂

(is your SN from that cartoon in the 80's--"Transformers"? My little brothers used to watch that everyday)

 

[voltron77]

Originally posted by Nefertari
About 2 hours away from finishing, but it's only taken me something like two weeks. Losing steam since this is 2ndary #21 for me. Thanks for the little cheer, voltron! 🙂

(is your SN from that cartoon in the 80's--"Transformers"? My little brothers used to watch that everyday)

No problem Nefertari!!!!!!!! Actually, my SDN screenname is from a 80's cartoon......not the Transformers (although I was a big fan of that cartoon as well) but Voltron....Defender of the Universe.....the one with the 5 lion robots/machines that merge together to form Voltron!!!!!😀

 

[jlee9531]

yeah i finally got done with that and luckily i waited long enough for the online app to come back on and not send the paper one. too many differences and restrictions with the paper one......

but have a nice drink after davis........we deserve it guys.....

im glad to say im finally done with my 40 secondaries....

whew...

 

[Nefertari]

Originally posted by jlee9531
but have a nice drink after davis........we deserve it guys.....

Amen! You poor thing--40!!!??? 😱

Call me crazy, but I've been up all night finishing this piece of torture since I don't have to work tomorrow. Was so frustrated last night that I actually grabbed a beer while typing it (big challenge to follow the cursor though, after the beer! 😀 )

Guess what? The 2nd page of the EC section doesn't load (but the others are OK). Message saying something like, "Error--cannot update data", so haven't been able to submit the second part. Oh well, time for bed! Later, folks! 😴

 

[SaltySqueegee]

After finishing this app a week ago, I have since used the same essays for all of my other schools. UCLA is just as burdensome. They have around ten 800 character essays asking about experiences, thoughts etc.

My mind is numb... 😱 😱


oh yeah... and by the way... UCSF sucks... (well not really)... got the "thin" envelope in the mail today. Approximately 35 qualified applicants vying for every 1 available seat next year.... crazy 🙄

 

[PrincetonRocks]

MDTom, don't worry about UCSF. There secondary was strange. They didn't ask for anything unless you're applying to MSTP or JMP with UCB...How do they weed people out for secondaries/interviews when they ask for no additional info? UCSF is quite wierd!


For everyone: Even though UCD's secondary is so long, I really enjoyed writing it. It really makes you think about everything you've done in the past 4 years and forces to reflect on how these activities have altered your life. I feel so blessed to even have the opportunity to fill out this secondary. It has really helped me to discover myself and my extracurricular pursuits....a good summary/reflection on my undergrudate experience. And, the admissions staff at UCD are extremely nice, especially Ed. UCD has definitely moved up in my top choices for medical school. No wonder why cousin Tom turned down UCSD, UCI, and UCSF for UCD.