UCONN Fall 2009

[deleted248403]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I kinda thought that it was "understood" that most usually get in. This is not the case? Ugh, just when you think you have your bases covered.

Yeah its sort of unofficial/winkwink but I think it would poor planning to assume you'll get offered a seat. If you tank your post-bacc year, you shouldnt be expected to be accepted.

Now if you get a 4.0 in the post-bac, rock the MCAT, have a good resume - then i think you've a right to be a little pissed haha

But ultimately UConn Med isnt going to give guarentees out to 10-12 people for seats when the class is only 85 big to begin with. Thats almost 15% of the class taken up by post-bac seats. 4-5 seats (so 5-ish%) is much more realistic

 

[traveler925]

I think I misled you guys unintentionally. When I said guarantee I didn't mean that it was a free ride. But what I meant was that, once you are in the postbacc, they give some of the students a conditional guarantee, which just says that if you keep at 3.3 gpa during the post bacc, doing all the classes the pick for you. And if you have the mcat score they ask for, then if you have all of that met, you are definately in. Thats not to say that those without the "conditional guarantee" wont get in, its just that for them they have alot more to prove i guess.

 

[schroon]

I am unfamiliar with the the UConn post bac program.

1, Is it worthwhile; if so why?

2. Are applicants that are not Connecticut residents at a disadvantage in the UConn post bac admissions process?

3. Does the UConn post bac program have a good track record for getting its grads into med school?

Thanks for any favorable or unfavorable information you care to share about this program.

 

[deleted248403]

I think I misled you guys unintentionally. When I said guarantee I didn't mean that it was a free ride. But what I meant was that, once you are in the postbacc, they give some of the students a conditional guarantee, which just says that if you keep at 3.3 gpa during the post bacc, doing all the classes the pick for you. And if you have the mcat score they ask for, then if you have all of that met, you are definately in. Thats not to say that those without the "conditional guarantee" wont get in, its just that for them they have alot more to prove i guess.

They don't give a guarantee of any kind to 90% of post-bac students. When I met with Dean Sanford I asked him about people rejected from the med school but asked to do the post-bac and if they prove themselves, then they'll get in. He stated it happened very rarely.
There are no guarantees whether conditional/unconditional or not with the UConn program

 

[deleted248403]

I am unfamiliar with the the UConn post bac program.

1, Is it worthwhile; if so why?

2. Are applicants that are not Connecticut residents at a disadvantage in the UConn post bac admissions process?

3. Does the UConn post bac program have a good track record for getting its grads into med school?

Thanks for any favorable or unfavorable information you care to share about this program.

1) If you get into Med School it is. They boast an 80% acceptance rate at Med School officially, and unofficially I've heard of 4 from 5 (so 80%).

2) I would imagine so as there arent that many seats but i dont know for a fact

3) see #1

 

[maxim3L]

They don't give a guarantee of any kind to 90% of post-bac students. When I met with Dean Sanford I asked him about people rejected from the med school but asked to do the post-bac and if they prove themselves, then they'll get in. He stated it happened very rarely.
There are no guarantees whether conditional/unconditional or not with the UConn program

Thanks Rob. Could you explain what "happened very rarely." Proving yourself and getting in or proving yourself and not getting in?

 

[deleted248403]

Thanks Rob. Could you explain what "happened very rarely." Proving yourself and getting in or proving yourself and not getting in?

No problem maxim

I asked him what the odds were of not being offered admission to the med school but being offered the post-bac with an admission to the med school contingent on a GPA requirement. He said it happened very rarely. Plus proving yourself differs for each one of us - I for example suck at organic chemistry and need to prove that I can get past it, whereas you may struggle with phyics. They may even ask you to re-take an pre-req in the post-bac program jsut to clear up why you a low-grade. If you tank it again a 2nd time, I think its fair to say you might wanna think about a different route 😉

I think the bottom line is that whilst getting into the post-bac is a great way of demonstrating to the med school admission committee that you are worthy of a place, it is no sure thing. Not even a remotely sure thing. The 2 of the 4 people i spoked to, rocked the post-bac and had great resumes anyways. But there is the 1 person who applied and did not get in - so you have to ask yourself why. Its hugely unlikely (i wont say never) that they will tell you offically or unofficially 'get a 3.5 and we'll see you at JDH next year'.

I just don't want people to believe UConn's post-bac is a sure-thing by any means. Its a late interview (May) so you may have already applied/interviewed/accepted other schools before you even get offered an interview at UConn. They wait to see the full year's grades. It'd be a tremendous gamble to not apply anywhere or not accept anywhere whilst waiting for the "guarantee" that may never come.

 

[maxim3L]

No problem maxim

I asked him what the odds were of not being offered admission to the med school but being offered the post-bac with an admission to the med school contingent on a GPA requirement. He said it happened very rarely. Plus proving yourself differs for each one of us - I for example suck at organic chemistry and need to prove that I can get past it, whereas you may struggle with phyics. They may even ask you to re-take an pre-req in the post-bac program jsut to clear up why you a low-grade. If you tank it again a 2nd time, I think its fair to say you might wanna think about a different route 😉

I think the bottom line is that whilst getting into the post-bac is a great way of demonstrating to the med school admission committee that you are worthy of a place, it is no sure thing. Not even a remotely sure thing. The 2 of the 4 people i spoked to, rocked the post-bac and had great resumes anyways. But there is the 1 person who applied and did not get in - so you have to ask yourself why. Its hugely unlikely (i wont say never) that they will tell you offically or unofficially 'get a 3.5 and we'll see you at JDH next year'.

I just don't want people to believe UConn's post-bac is a sure-thing by any means. Its a late interview (May) so you may have already applied/interviewed/accepted other schools before you even get offered an interview at UConn. They wait to see the full year's grades. It'd be a tremendous gamble to not apply anywhere or not accept anywhere whilst waiting for the "guarantee" that may never come.

Dang, I guess it will be back to stripping for me if it doesnt work out.😀

 

[fiznat]

So the deadline for the Fall 09 class was yesterday. Good luck to everyone, and please, update us here if you hear anything!

 

[mss4]

Has anyone gotten a hold of Lynda Fox yet? If so what did she say about the status of the application? Thank you!

 

[deleted248403]

Mss4 - this is the email I got;

Dear Robert:
At this time your file is considered complete and will be reviewed at the end
of March by Dr. Keat Sanford, the Director of the Post-Bac program. You will
be notified by the end of April if you will be asked in for an interview.Thank you for your continuing interest

Therefore, I doubt we'll hear anything till the end of April

 

[fiznat]

Hey Rob,

I saw in one of your earlier posts you are an EMT? Do you work in Hartford? I'm a medic for AMR...

 

[deleted248403]

volunteer in rocky hill

 

[fiznat]

volunteer in rocky hill

Cool man, good to see there are other local EMS folks doing this stuff. Good luck!

 

[deleted248403]

Cool man, good to see there are other local EMS folks doing this stuff. Good luck!

Drug rep by day but EMS by night

Thanks. I don't think many people go EMS to MS. Oh well.

Good luck to you too, maybe i'll cya around at SF or HH

 

[mss4]

Mss4 - this is the email I got;

Dear Robert:
At this time your file is considered complete and will be reviewed at the end
of March by Dr. Keat Sanford, the Director of the Post-Bac program. You will
be notified by the end of April if you will be asked in for an interview.Thank you for your continuing interest

Therefore, I doubt we'll hear anything till the end of April

Thanks Robflanker.

 

[carbofation]

What's the deadline for this program? Is it too late to apply for program B?

 

[deleted248403]

What's the deadline for this program? Is it too late to apply for program B?

Deadline was April 2nd I believe

 

[carbofation]

Thanks. Guess HES it is......

 

[Cornell87]

any word on interviews for uconn post bacc for entering fall 2009 class?

 

[deleted248403]

Cornell - read above, the email clearly stated we would hear by the end of April....

 

[rjahncke]

I just spoke with Lynda and she told me that she has about 50 unopened applications on her desk that she will be going through this afternoon, and will be emailing those applicants by Friday to confirm their applications were received and are complete, so all of you who have not yet received an email, wait until this Friday before getting nervous.

 

[fiznat]

I just spoke with Lynda and she told me that she has about 50 unopened applications on her desk that she will be going through this afternoon, and will be emailing those applicants by Friday to confirm their applications were received and are complete, so all of you who have not yet received an email, wait until this Friday before getting nervous.

Whew, thank you! I was *just* about to type an email to them!

 

[PearlyWhites12]

Hey all ~ I'm new to SDN - I've applied to the Minority full year Post Bacc program. I haven't received an email confirmation that my application is complete though! I'm relived now that I read your post, rjahncke! I guess I'll just continue to wait...😉

 

[deleted248403]

50 unopened apps? I hope the program is bigger than 9! Otherwise, its going to be ridiculously competitive!

UConn Med had a 3% acceptance&enrollment rate - I wonder if the Post-Bacc will be similar lol

 

[fiznat]

I think I remember reading somewhere that they took about 20 people. I'm not sure. No surprise it is pretty competitive though, it looks like an excellent program and everyone who gets in raves about it.

 

[mss4]

I have heard from some of my friends that they ended up taking the MCAT and doing really well on it, and then applied for med school for 2009, and some have gotten acceptances. I am wondering... even if my gpa is low, and if I re take the MCATs to do better, will that be a better route to start in 2010? I am still pondering..I have applied to post-bac but I know it could take a year or so, and then apply..when will I start med school then? Confused! Any suggestions?

 

[deleted248403]

I have heard from some of my friends that they ended up taking the MCAT and doing really well on it, and then applied for med school for 2009, and some have gotten acceptances. I am wondering... even if my gpa is low, and if I re take the MCATs to do better, will that be a better route to start in 2010? I am still pondering..I have applied to post-bac but I know it could take a year or so, and then apply..when will I start med school then? Confused! Any suggestions?

Mss4 - you confused me now!

If your GPA is low (prob below 3.4) then you will almost certainly need to take some classes or enroll in some kind of program to lift it. Even if you get a 35 on your MCAT, it won't balance off a 3.2 or 3.3.
I'm not sure your plan but ill tell you mine and hopefully it clear some stuff up, maybe...
MCAT for the 2nd time in May, submit AMCAS in June, Orgo at Storrs over the summer, enroll in Post-bac/SMP program in the fall, submit secondaries - aim for starting MS in fall 2010

 

[escesc]

do program b or minority program students have to retake the mcat? How does it work? thanks

 

[deleted248403]

do program b or minority program students have to retake the mcat? How does it work? thanks

Depends how you did the first time... I am retaking the MCAT by choice and pursing program b, but it's not a requirement to my knowledge

This was copied from the full year minority portion of the website;
A Medical College Admissions Test review course will be offered through the Kaplan Educational Center to those students who have completed a typical premed program but whose records indicate a need to retake the examination

 

[fiznat]

Just a warning for other applicants:

I emailed last Thursday (knowing Friday the office was going to be closed) to confirm that my application was complete. Turns out they were missing all of my transcripts, and both of my letters of recommendation. I know for a fact that they were all sent, and some of the missing items were even hand delivered directly to their office. Ms. Fox told me that Dr. Sanford had extended the deadline until the 15th of April, but even still that doesn't give me much time to get everything together.

Just thought I'd warn others: if you haven't received confirmation of your application being complete, you really ought to call/email and find out what the deal is.

 

[deleted248403]

That sucks Fiznat. I got the complete email, but thanks for the warning

 

[deleted248403]

Partial bump, and partially wondering if anyone has heard anything

 

[mss4]

Partial bump, and partially wondering if anyone has heard anything

Nope not as of yet. Did everyone who did not get an email regarding their application completion get one? Maybe after all the emails are sent out..he may start letting people know. Is it usually through email or mail? Thanks!

 

[Jlaw]

Hi Everyone- I'm considering applying to this program for the fall so I'm interested in seeing who gets in. What kind of undergrad GPA's did you apply with? I'm a finance major now looking to get into medicine, had a 3.0 undergrad gpa that needs to be improved drastically.

Anyway good luck to you all!

 

[deleted248403]

I believe you missed the deadline for the Fall JLaw. The cutoff was originally April 1st, but Fiznat told us they extended it to April 15th due to logistical reasons.

I may be wrong but I think you missed it. Sorry

 

[Jlaw]

Sorry- wasn't clear. By applying for this fall I meant by the Oct 15 deadline for the program starting in January 2010.

 

[deleted248403]

Ah there you go then.

I'm not sure how many people are admitted in January just as a heads up. The program is pretty small, and I'm not sure if they only fill places of drop-outs in January.

Eitherway, none of us have heard about whether we're accepted or not yet, so our GPAs might be a bit useless until we see who got in and not. If you keep an eye on this thread, in the next month we should find out

 

[Jlaw]

Thanks for that info. I'm planning on speaking to them before I apply so I will definitely ask them about when the best time to apply is. Just trying to get as much info as possible so I don't go in there totally uninformed. All of this med school/pre-med stuff is very new to me.

I'll keep an eye on this thread, good luck to everyone who is waiting to hear back.

 

[fiznat]

Did everyone who did not get an email regarding their application completion get one? Maybe after all the emails are sent out..he may start letting people know.

I still haven't received any confirmations regarding my application. I was told to call them on Monday if I didn't hear anything, which I will do tomorrow.

Also FYI when I went to the office last week to (re)drop stuff off, there were still unopened applications on the secretary's desk. I wouldn't expect to hear a decision any time real soon...

 

[deleted248403]

Fiznat - did you call yesterday? Whats the deal with that? Hope everything is squared away for you finally

Ugh I hate this waiting, I've already gotten into UMDNJ but UConn is prob my first choice and waiting to hear anything is driving me nuts

 

[fiznat]

Funny you ask Rob. This showed up in my inbox today:

Hello Foster:

Your file is considered complete. Dr. Keat Sanford will be reviewing files through-out April as he has extended the deadlines. You should hear from him by the end of May. Thank you for your continued interest in our Post-Bac program.

Lynda Rae Fox
Admission Center AG-036
UCHC Sch of Medicine
Farmington Ave
Farmington CT 06030-3906
(860) 679-4713
FAX 679-1899

Yay.

 

[deleted248403]

Good deal.

But by the end of May?!? Ugghhh my deadline for UMDNJ is June 1st

 

[fiznat]

Rob,

My expert advice is that you should withdraw from the UCONN program and accept the UMDNJ spot.

Note: this has nothing at all to do with my own self interest. 😛

 

[deleted248403]

Fiznat - its that compassion and care for others that i'm sure makes you a good medic in the north end, and will make you an excellent physician in the future 😛

hahah

 

[Powertongue]

does anyone know when each program start (program A,B, and full year)?

 

[deleted248403]

Classes Begin

Fall semester late August
Spring semester late January
Full-year mid June​

http://medicine.uchc.edu/prospective/postbac/index.html

 

[animals]

Since you guys have all applied already, do you have any idea if the tuition estimate given on the website is accurate? $7,000 seems awfully cheap for a postbacc program.

 

[deleted248403]

Thats just tutition and thats in-state. Not sure how many many out-of-staters get taken but i've no reason to believe its significantly more

 

[animals]

That's awesome. Good deal. Thanks