UCSF Secondary/Interview

[VeggieGal]

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I was just wondering whether getting a secondary at UCSF means that your GPA/MCAT are acceptable and that they will use your LOR to gage whether they want to invite you for an interview. I ask this b/c they don't really have any additional info to evaluate except for the LORs.

Also, does getting an interview at most schools mean that your GPA/MCAT are good enough or can you still be rejected based on the numbers even if you have a great interview?

Thanks

 

[krelian]

I'm not an expert on this process, but I think your assumption is correct for UCSF. In general, if your numbers are undesirable, I would imagine that schools would not waste the time to call you for an inteview. Numbers probably still play a role post-interview though, as the interview is only one part of the overall application.

 

[lavertus]

With UCSF, I'm guessing that they usually don't give your primary a very in depth analysis before sending you a secondary. They might give you a secondary automatically if your numbers are good enough or if you're borderline numbers-wise, they might look through your experiences. I'm betting that they really read your primary (PS, etc) as well as your recs once they've made the first cut. It doesn't make sense that they'd read through 5000+ personal statements before sending out secondaries -- too inefficient.

 

[ambaduchi]

another thing to keep in mind, the ucsf secondary does have a line in it that says you can send any additional info about yourself if you feel like it. they'll also be using that info in the post-secondary evaluation too...

 

[wxl31]

ucsf doesn't print out the descriptions for your extracurricular experiences. something else to keep in mind.

 

[sunUCB]

ucsf is very selective in who they interview (and even in who they send secondaries too), so i'd imagine that your numbers are fine if they invite you to an interview. but i dunno about other schools - i've gotten interviews at highly ranked schools with low numbers, and i knew i'd end up just getting waitlisted with no chance at acceptance because in the end the numbers are what count. i still went to the interviews, of course, but obviously got waitlisted because my numbers are nowhere near their average numbers.

 

[Cat's Meow]

ucsf doesn't print out the descriptions for your extracurricular experiences. something else to keep in mind.

😕 😕 😕

Wait a minute--so people at UCSF reading our applications only have the AMCAS essay and a list of activities without descriptions (in addition to letters)?

Weird.

 

[Cat's Meow]

ucsf doesn't print out the descriptions for your extracurricular experiences. something else to keep in mind.

Then letters of rec must be really really important.

 

[wxl31]

Then letters of rec must be really really important.

yeah, it's weird isn't it? i mean, the school supposedly selects some top notch applicants, but how do they really get to know you? their secondary is so sparse. i felt like the interviews weren't that great of a "get to know you" experience. maybe i just didn't click with them. i think i'm going to be part of an adcom someday. this process really boggles my mind and i would like to know how it's *really* done.

good luck CM! only one more week =)

 

[Cat's Meow]

yeah, it's weird isn't it? i mean, the school supposedly selects some top notch applicants, but how do they really get to know you? their secondary is so sparse. i felt like the interviews weren't that great of a "get to know you" experience. maybe i just didn't click with them. i think i'm going to be part of an adcom someday. this process really boggles my mind and i would like to know how it's *really* done.

good luck CM! only one more week =)

I think that is weird too. I guess they do things differently in the Bay.

Waiting sucks, but UCSF is worth it.

Good luck to you too...

 

[UCLAstudent]

I really hope the interview isn't a huge part of the decision. One of mine didn't go so well. 🙁 The other seemed to go pretty well. But then again, my numbers are below the school's averages, so ... hopefully the letters weigh heavily or something. I don't know what to think. I feel like my finals are getting me stressed out about EVERYTHING.

 

[Cat's Meow]

I really hope the interview isn't a huge part of the decision. One of mine didn't go so well. 🙁 The other seemed to go pretty well. But then again, my numbers are below the school's averages, so ... hopefully the letters weigh heavily or something. I don't know what to think. I feel like my finals are getting me stressed out about EVERYTHING.

Dittto.

Isn't it sooo hard to study with applications looming over your psyche???

I felt that neither of my interviews went spectularly well, although they weren't bad either.

I was really surprised to read that the UCSF adcom does not have our activity descriptions. That sucks!!!

 

[UCLAstudent]

Dittto.

Isn't it sooo hard to study with applications looming over your psyche???

I felt that neither of my interviews went spectularly well, although they weren't bad either.

I was really surprised to read that the UCSF adcom does not have our activity descriptions. That sucks!!!

Yeah, I had heard that about the activity descriptions before but I forgot about it. Makes me wonder what I put down for the titles of my activities! I hope I made them sound really impressive. 😉 I guess I could look it up, but why stress myself out even more.

Are you in school, Cat's Meow?

 

[Cat's Meow]

Yeah, I had heard that about the activity descriptions before but I forgot about it. Makes me wonder what I put down for the titles of my activities! I hope I made them sound really impressive. 😉 I guess I could look it up, but why stress myself out even more.

Are you in school, Cat's Meow?

Yup, and in finals week 🙂 😀 😎 👍

 

[UCLAstudent]

Yup, and in finals week 🙂 😀 😎 👍

Oh boy, sounds like a blast! Mine are next week. Good luck! 👍

 

[Cat's Meow]

Oh boy, sounds like a blast! Mine are next week. Good luck! 👍

Finals are a breeze compared to waiting

I looked at my AMCAS activity titles, and they sucked. Big time 🙁 .

 

[blump]

Finals are a breeze compared to waiting

I looked at my AMCAS activity titles, and they sucked. Big time 🙁 .

I heard of someone who got in with a 26 MCAT, so its def not all numbers

 

[Khenon]

I heard of someone who got in with a 26 MCAT, so its def not all numbers

This has to be true, since I got a secndary from UCSF. Granted no interview invite, but I haven't been rejected yet either, and I've seen some other post-secondary rejections from them recently. Anyway, I'm not holding my breath, but they must have seen something besides numbers on my app they liked, or they wouldn't have offered me that secondary.

 

[tsj]

I was just wondering whether getting a secondary at UCSF means that your GPA/MCAT are acceptable and that they will use your LOR to gage whether they want to invite you for an interview. I ask this b/c they don't really have any additional info to evaluate except for the LORs.

Also, does getting an interview at most schools mean that your GPA/MCAT are good enough or can you still be rejected based on the numbers even if you have a great interview?

Thanks

I met an attending from UCSF who is on the adcom and he explained it all to me even showing me what forms they use to evaluate people. You are granted an interview based on a point system which includes MCATs, GPAs, your undergrad institution (yes it really does matter) etc... If you get the interview, your chances of getting in are pretty good.

 

[lavertus]

I met an attending from UCSF who is on the adcom and he explained it all to me even showing me what forms they use to evaluate people. You are granted an interview based on a point system which includes MCATs, GPAs, your undergrad institution (yes it really does matter) etc... If you get the interview, your chances of getting in are pretty good.

Thanks, tsj! Do you have any idea how much weight they give your experiences and your recs? I actually called them a while back and asked them about whether it matters what school you attended. The woman on the phone said "unless you're from Harvard, no" essentially...

edit: actually, I was asking in reference to where to take post-bac classes. She said Berkeley, Stanford and SFSU were all the same in her book. Only Harvard would be given more weight...

 

[ucla09]

I am also waiting to hear from UCSF. I think numbers are everything, thus I don't think I will have a chance at UCSF. I received an interview but with a low score on the mcat, I think my decent GPA helped me get the interview. But you never know how things end up at the end.

 

[VeggieGal]

How does UCSF notify if you are selected for an interview? By email or snail mail? And, do they accept supplementary materials? I am wondering about that for other schools as well. I just don't want it to be more of a hindrance and a help if i send additional materials.

 

[VeggieGal]

I will also add that I am an out of state applicant. I received a secondary and applied for the UCB JMP as well. I really want an interview there, as my boyfriend of three years will be working there next year, and it would be nice to be in the same city. I just want to make sure that I am doing everything I can on my part to make it happen. Thanks for your help!