UCSD Fall 2010 Applicants

gamkaung · Oct 5, 2009

Anybody working on UCSD supplemental essays?
I know the first question's word limit is 500 words.
What are the word limits for the other 4 questions???
so just use the space provided?
we can write more right?

kogekao · Oct 5, 2009

There is no word limit on the other questions, but I called admissions and they said to keep it short--like a decent-sized paragraph.

gamkaung · Oct 5, 2009

kogekao said:
There is no word limit on the other questions, but I called admissions and they said to keep it short--like a decent-sized paragraph.

thanks for your help.. have u submitted your applicatin and mailed ur check?
I think it is still tooo early for me to submit.

sungieality · Oct 5, 2009

Wow, I didn't know we could go beyond the boxes. I guess my supp. answers will be pretty short in comparison to most, then.

jmcfa002 · Oct 5, 2009

I thought thats how it was as well. Owell, hopefully it won't be held to much against us

Gosondth · Dec 17, 2009

I have interviewed students for a few years now and as far as those supplemental essays go, please be concise.

My pet peeve is an essay that turns into a constant rambling. I know that length matters for academic papers, but as far as interviews go, shorter is better. Interviewers only have 5 - 10 minutes to go through each candidate so the shorter the essay, the faster we can get a clear picture of you.

... this is a message for next year's applicants.... forgot it was already December.

KMIMSM · Dec 17, 2009

Gosondth said:
I have interviewed students for a few years now and as far as those supplemental essays go, please be concise.

My pet peeve is an essay that turns into a constant rambling. I know that length matters for academic papers, but as far as interviews go, shorter is better. Interviewers only have 5 - 10 minutes to go through each candidate so the shorter the essay, the faster we can get a clear picture of you.

... this is a message for next year's applicants.... forgot it was already December.

what?!!??

i wrote a lot because I thought that meant I cared for once about attending here!

more time spent ==== more care

urghh

swth0208 · Dec 17, 2009

Anyone know how the grading system works for UCSD? I know they have Pass/Fail system but what is their cutoff to pass? Also, it is pure Pass/Fail or do they have distinction?

Also, taking classes together with med school students... is it tough? Med school students and pharmacy school students will be on the same curve?

I was just curious about UCSD grading system...

rycetrix · Dec 17, 2009

swth0208 said:
Anyone know how the grading system works for UCSD? I know they have Pass/Fail system but what is their cutoff to pass? Also, it is pure Pass/Fail or do they have distinction?

Also, taking classes together with med school students... is it tough? Med school students and pharmacy school students will be on the same curve?

I was just curious about UCSD grading system...

Correct me if I am wrong UCSD students, but the grading system at UCSD is set up as Honors/Pass/Fail. Honors is given to those who achieve 90% or higher in a class. Pass requirements would depend on each class at hand, but I am assuming it is probably around a 75% or so to pass.

I cannot comment on taking classes together with med school students because the system is different here at UCSF. But I have heard rumors/stories that professors cater more to the med students. Any curriculum at any pharmacy school will be tough and I don't think you can necessarily say that having classes with med school students will make it tougher than any other class at other pharm schools. But, I'll leave it to any UCSD students to comment on that.

busyizzy · Dec 17, 2009

KMIMSM said:
what?!!??

i wrote a lot because I thought that meant I cared for once about attending here!

more time spent ==== more care

urghh

Longer doesn't necessarily translate to better. You can write a nice concise paragraph, and still have agonized over it for months.

socalgirlie · Dec 17, 2009

I wonder when we will be getting our interview invitations??! :xf:

Gosondth · Dec 18, 2009

KMIMSM said:
what?!!??

i wrote a lot because I thought that meant I cared for once about attending here!

more time spent ==== more care

urghh

It's possible that you have a lot of thoughts to share, however, in my experience either five paragraphs can be condensed into one or too many ideas are presented when the essay asked for one. I agree that more time spent does imply more care, but that time can also be spent by making a clear point in the most concise fashion. Either way, do not be discouraged, you can make up ground during interviews.

Gosondth · Dec 18, 2009

swth0208 said:
Anyone know how the grading system works for UCSD? I know they have Pass/Fail system but what is their cutoff to pass? Also, it is pure Pass/Fail or do they have distinction?

Also, taking classes together with med school students... is it tough? Med school students and pharmacy school students will be on the same curve?

I was just curious about UCSD grading system...

The courses are indeed H/P/F. For the pharmacy only classes, H over 90% and P is usually over 70%. Pharmacy classes are not curved.

For med school, the classes are curved and everyone is on the same curve. P is usually around 68% (getting over 70% is guaranteed passing) and rumor has it that top 10% of the class get the mythical "H". In regards to difficulty, med school classes are not necessarily difficult, it just forces people to be more efficient with time. It is possible to work during the med school year.

lovelystella · Dec 18, 2009

mleeeeee · Dec 18, 2009

lovelystella said:
I just got it today. My interview will be on Jan 15. Good luck to everyone!

did it come through snail mail or email? when is the latest to reply back for an interview? i am out of the country till new years so i cant reply back. also, are there more than one interview dates?

ananas · Dec 18, 2009

mleeeeee said:
did it come through snail mail or email? when is the latest to reply back for an interview? i am out of the country till new years so i cant reply back. also, are there more than one interview dates?

I got it through snail mail, postmarked 12/17. I have until Jan 6th to mail it in.

They only gave one interview date and said we could reschedule only with proof of an exam or family/medical reason.

jmcfa002 · Dec 19, 2009

i got one via snail mail also, its on jan 30th. I dont really know much about it, my mom got the letter. All I know is its in the morning

edit:UCSD's site has 4 interview dates listed until 2/1, for those of you who are curious

KMIMSM · Dec 19, 2009

jmcfa002 said:
i got one via snail mail also, its on jan 30th. I dont really know much about it, my mom got the letter. All I know is its in the morning

edit:UCSD's site has 4 interview dates listed until 2/1, for those of you who are curious

do you have the link? i couldn't find it.

shunpo · Dec 19, 2009

KMIMSM said:
do you have the link? i couldn't find it.

Same.

I can't check my mailbox till I get back after new year as well. So much for a cool Christmas present =P haha

desklamp · Dec 19, 2009

sweet, no interview from UCSD either. this is going to be a depressing holiday

sungieality · Dec 19, 2009

grannyli87 · Dec 19, 2009

Yay! Got an interview for Jan 15th at 12. Anyone else?

AntiviralsRule · Dec 19, 2009

grannyli87 said:
Yay! Got an interview for Jan 15th at 12. Anyone else?

To those who got interview letters: where do you live? Are you all from SoCal?

prepharmdude · Dec 19, 2009

grannyli87 said:
Yay! Got an interview for Jan 15th at 12. Anyone else?

Mine is on Jan 16th at 12 noon. although the letter said 12am, which I think is a typo lol.

grannyli87 · Dec 19, 2009

AntiviralsRule said:
To those who got interview letters: where do you live? Are you all from SoCal?

yea, I live in Simi Valley and thats in Southern Cali.

jmcfa002 · Dec 19, 2009

sorry i was working today...my mail was sent to norco,ca

janeeyre · Dec 19, 2009

i got my interview invitation today too! it's on feb.1
the letter was dated 12/15 but was postmarked 12/17

AntiviralsRule · Dec 20, 2009

Has anyone from NorCal or out of state heard anything?

Dancer123 · Dec 20, 2009

Just got back from vacation.... I have my interview for Jan. 30th @ 12! I am actually super surprised because previous years stats say that 100% of people interviewed held or are expecting a bachelors degree before matriculation and I will have neither.

I think they are expecting a larger class size this year. On the welcome page it says they wish to reach 240 PharmD students... I don't know if they mean per year or overall?

janeeyre · Dec 20, 2009

AntiviralsRule said:
Has anyone from NorCal or out of state heard anything?

i'm from norcal

Gosondth · Dec 20, 2009

Dancer123 said:
I think they are expecting a larger class size this year. On the welcome page it says they wish to reach 240 PharmD students... I don't know if they mean per year or overall?

60 students x 4 classes = 240, class size cannot expand much past 60, the classrooms cannot accomodate the size... the only auditorium in the building can hold around 200 and that's for the joint MS1/P2 classes

swth0208 · Dec 21, 2009

grannyli87 said:
Yay! Got an interview for Jan 15th at 12. Anyone else?

I am from East coast.. and there was A LOT of snow.... anyone from eastcoast got interview invites from UCSD????

futurepharmdoc · Dec 22, 2009

To those who had questions about this:

there'll be 5 interviews: Jan 15, 16, 30, 31 and Feb 1.

I will be one of your interviewers, if you have any question regarding UCSD drop me an email at [email protected]

Hope to see at UCSD

willrocks · Dec 22, 2009

Does anybody know if UCSD Skaggs gives out scholarship/grant money to incoming students?

jmcfa002 · Dec 22, 2009

Stopped by there yesterday. The campus is pretty big. The pharm building is nice, and it still looks pretty new.

On a side note, There's a graffiti hallway and stairwell in the art building. Its pretty awesome!

swth0208 · Dec 22, 2009

Interview invite came for 1/30 noon.. anyone else out there on the same date? I am coming from east coast... anyone else? I think most people are going to be from California...

shunpo · Dec 22, 2009

futurepharmdoc said:
To those who had questions about this:

there'll be 5 interviews: Jan 15, 16, 30, 31 and Feb 1.

I will be one of your interviewers, if you have any question regarding UCSD drop me an email at [email protected]

Hope to see at UCSD

Hi future,

Has UCSD finished reviewing and selecting applicants for interviews at this point?

jmcfa002 · Dec 22, 2009

swth0208 said:
Interview invite came for 1/30 noon.. anyone else out there on the same date? I am coming from east coast... anyone else? I think most people are going to be from California...

congrats! Mine is that date, not sure what time yet though. And ya, I'm coming from socal

lake23 · Dec 23, 2009

futurepharmdoc said:
To those who had questions about this:

there'll be 5 interviews: Jan 15, 16, 30, 31 and Feb 1.

I will be one of your interviewers, if you have any question regarding UCSD drop me an email at [email protected]

Hope to see at UCSD

Hello Future,

Has the review process of applicant files been completed and are all the interview invitations out? Or, are there still interview spots available? Thanks

FFpharmd · Dec 23, 2009

i'm an out of state (PA) resident and I just received my invitation to interview. pretty excited! jan 16th

prepharmdude · Dec 23, 2009

hey guys and gals, for those who are living in LA and plan to drive down to SD.. are you guys planning to stay at a hotel the night before or just drive down for the interview the same day? i cant decide....

grannyli87 · Dec 23, 2009

prepharmdude said:
hey guys and gals, for those who are living in LA and plan to drive down to SD.. are you guys planning to stay at a hotel the night before or just drive down for the interview the same day? i cant decide....

I live about 2.5 hours away and I was planning on driving there since the check in time is 12...what are u going to do?

Chromatography · Dec 23, 2009

I was from San Diego and I just recently moved to LA. I go back a lot to SD to visit friends and I usually don't stay overnight. It's like 1 and half hour driving with no traffic, so like 2-3 hrs with traffic. For me I would save the money and just come back, it's not that big deal

KMIMSM · Dec 25, 2009

has anyone gotten rejections yet? or does anyone know when ucsd will mail out official rejection letters?

I already received a rejection from ucsf so now I am hoping on ucsd although after the sf rejection I feel somewhat down and hopeless for sd.

Bellbell88 · Dec 25, 2009