UWash adcom meeting

[MedicineBird]

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I guess I spoke to Dr. Reuer about, oh, three years ago now - from what I recall he said there were usually around 60-70 applicants. That's not so bad, right? Bet my MCAT was lower than all of theirs combined though : )

GREAT! So you'll stand out! Isn't that what we're supposed to do?

 

[brookester]

Below is the interview schedule for the WWAMI states. I talked to the admissions office yesterday and they said the final decisions would be made on the Friday of the last week of interviews for that particular state. People will be taken out of the competetive pool in March as people turn down their acceptances.

Idaho December 1-3, Feb 9-11, March 8-11
Montana: January 24-28, February 21-25
Alaska: February 2-4, February 28-March 4
Wyoming: February 14-18

I'm a WA resident and have an interview on Feb. 4th. Whats the deal with that?

 

[MedicineBird]

I'm a WA resident and have an interview on Feb. 4th. Whats the deal with that?

The same deal with me being an Idaho reseident with an interview on the 8th. (I live in Seattle though)

 

[cheapdate]

I gotta hand it to people who have a family and can still find to time to pursue medical school. I'm still in school and I can't even find the time to breath most of the time. well goodluck everyone!

 

[Sarikate]

GREAT! So you'll stand out! Isn't that what we're supposed to do?

Yeah, I'll have to admit, I meant to do it. I figured if I scored higher than the national average they would think I was just another schmo, that there was nothing uniquely special about me. Now they'll have the chance to see my coveted collection of petrified wildlife feces, all because of that score...

 

[fightingsaint]

People will be taken out of the competetive pool in March as people turn down their acceptances.

You mean "alternate list," right? I was under the impression that in March, when final decisions are made for each state, there is also an alternate list formed which they rank...then any openings are filled in order from there.

 

[NeuroSync]

Congrats to all those who were accepted this cycle! You guys must be awesome! I was wondering if anyone knows when the next excomm meeting is and when people start to be rescued from the competitive pool...

For the reapplicants that got in: I was just wondering what you did differently in your application this time around and how the interview compared...I'm reapplying as well and I don't know how to gauge what is going on...I've been thrown into the pool again this year, granted I've been in the pool for lmost two days and I'm already thinking about next years application b/c the same thing might happen again. Last year, I was rejected after almost 5 months in the pool. Any suggestions for application improvements/letters? Since last year, I did what Dr. Samson suggested "have fun" and I traveled and volunteered in hospitals abroad and retook the MCAT in August (improved scores)...gained mentoring/teaching experience...ahhhhhhh, I just don't know what to do for next year...sorry, I'm just very frustrated and venting.

Hi, Kiwi. I was rejected last year after being on the waitlist for a couple of months (I interviewed late in the cycle). I met with Dr. Samson also, and he just told me to keep up on current events, which I did. I rewrote my statement, rewrote and organized my activities (both on AAMC app), and had an awesome interview. I was placed in the competitive pool (in early October) and languished until this week when I was rescued. I didn't write any LOIs or anything like that. In other words, I didn't DO anything differently during the year.

It is my understanding that the school favors reapplicants because it shows determination. I think more than 25% of the class is composed of people who applied at least twice. Hedging my bets, however, I applied to lots of different schools this year and I was accepted to and prepared to go elsewhere. They wanted to see that, too (I only applied to UW last year), I was told.

I hope that helps...

 

[KiwiFruit]

Hi, Kiwi. I was rejected last year after being on the waitlist for a couple of months (I interviewed late in the cycle). I met with Dr. Samson also, and he just told me to keep up on current events, which I did. I rewrote my statement, rewrote and organized my activities (both on AAMC app), and had an awesome interview. I was placed in the competitive pool (in early October) and languished until this week when I was rescued. I didn't write any LOIs or anything like that. In other words, I didn't DO anything differently during the year.

It is my understanding that the school favors reapplicants because it shows determination. I think more than 25% of the class is composed of people who applied at least twice. Hedging my bets, however, I applied to lots of different schools this year and I was accepted to and prepared to go elsewhere. They wanted to see that, too (I only applied to UW last year), I was told.

I hope that helps...

Hi NeuroSync! Thanks so much for the encouraging story and your reply! It helps to know that they favor reapps and stuff. Best of luck at UW!! Congrats again. 🙂

 

[Go Lance!]

Anyone know when the next adcom meeting is?

I just called the Admissions office, and here's the scoop:
They will continue to hold EXCOM meetings once per week, and the next one is this Friday. The EXCOM will primarily be discussing WAMI applicants, but some decisions concerning WA applicants will still be made. She also said that the majority of decisions concerning WA applicants will be made during the last EXCOM meeting at the end of March.

Good luck everyone!

 

[cheapdate]

Is the adcom meeting today?

 

[MedicineBird]

Is the adcom meeting today?

every Friday

 

[futuredoc10]

Anyone heard anything lately?

 

[Dr. Gonzo]

Anyone heard anything lately?

Nothing here. I wish I could inflict pain on the phrase "your application is comlete."

 

[Dr. Gonzo]

Anyone heard anything lately?

Nothing here. I wish I could inflict pain on the phrase "your application is complete."

 

[futuredoc10]

Nothing here. I wish I could inflict pain on the phrase "your application is complete."

Gonzo...that was freakin hilarious. Everytime I open up that damn status page (which is alot) I dread reading that damn phrase. We should get him after school in the playground.

 

[olydoc2b]

Nothing here. I wish I could inflict pain on the phrase "your application is comlete."

Amen to that!!!!

 

[bjay27]

You guys are killing me here with this status page. Ive searched everything I have and cant find the link.

Can someone please give me the link?

Im still debating a LOI. I dont really have any new info to add, so I dont think Im going to waste time composing some bull****. Saves time for everyone.

Thanks

 

[PhotoMD]

You guys are killing me here with this status page. Ive searched everything I have and cant find the link.

Can someone please give me the link?

Im still debating a LOI. I dont really have any new info to add, so I dont think Im going to waste time composing some bull****. Saves time for everyone.

Thanks

May I direct your attention to: http://rainier.dom.washington.edu/admiss/uwapp.htmlx

Your code is the first two letters of your last name and the last seven digits of your SSN. In other words, if your last name is Hilton and your SSN is 123456789, then your code is hi3456789. Good luck!

 

[NeuroSync]

I'm a WA resident and have an interview on Feb. 4th. Whats the deal with that?

It probably means that they couldn't fill those slots with AK applicants, so they fill them with the WA applicants they still need to interview. I wouldn't think about it either way. I thought the ADCOM was composed of different people when it comes to the other states (they each have their own?). So worst case scnenario, if that is true, is that you have to wait until the WA ADCOM meets again to get a decision. I wouldn't put too much thought into it, though. Good luck in your interview!!! 🙂

 

[Sarikate]

I've got my WWAMI interview today...barely slept a wink last night, darn it! Wish me luck!

 

[olydoc2b]

I've got my WWAMI interview today...barely slept a wink last night, darn it! Wish me luck!

Good luck Sarikate! Just remember to be yourself, relax, be honest, take your time answering, and all that. You'll do great! Just think how good it will feel to get home (or to your hotel or whatever) and be DONE! I'm sending "good vibes" your way!

 

[NeuroSync]

I've got my WWAMI interview today...barely slept a wink last night, darn it! Wish me luck!

I wish you the very best of luck today, Srikate! 🙂

 

[MedicineBird]

I've got my WWAMI interview today...barely slept a wink last night, darn it! Wish me luck!

Get off the computer you dork! You should be getting lost in the Health Sciences building by now. Remember your mantra; "If Joe Slovak can do it, SO CAN I!!!!" 😀

I'm expecting a full report later tonight.

 

[futuredoc10]

Sarikate,
How did your interview go? Did they give you any juicy information on whats going these days?

 

[Sarikate]

Wow, I'm surprised I made it back here in one piece! I feel like chopped liver. No, really, the interview wasn't that bad, although if you went into it without having read SDN feedback you would have been in for a nasty surprise...the interviewers were super nice people, but they definitely asked a few challenging questions.

As far as the ADCOM meeting goes, they are meeting tomorrow (gulp) to decide on this week's AK applicants. By Tuesday (woah), we should know if we are accepted, placed in the competitive pool, or rejected. My guess is that most of us will be placed in the pool because they still have another round of AK interviews to do in about three weeks. After THAT round, they make final decisions regarding AK applicants. I believe that it works this way for all WWAMI applicants. Is that decipherable?

 

[tlex]

Wow, I'm surprised I made it back here in one piece! I feel like chopped liver. No, really, the interview wasn't that bad, although if you went into it without having read SDN feedback you would have been in for a nasty surprise...the interviewers were super nice people, but they definitely asked a few challenging questions.

Good luck! I don't think I've ever talked to anybody who didn't feel a little wrung out after a UWSOM interview. Most of the people I have talked to who were accepted didn't neccesarily feel like they had a stellar interview. Hopefully you'll get some good news before too long...

 

[Sarikate]

I hope so too. I got more bad news today (shocker!) - was rejected from Hopkins. Not that I didn't expect it, but...ouch. I'm so tired of this game!

 

[futuredoc10]

Any WA residents hear anything today or see their status page change? I think I'm going nuts, yeah definately, definately... going nuts.

 

[lulubean]

hi guys!
i am interviewing at uw next friday and am super nervous. did the interviewers ask about specific healthcare issues going on now? i.e. medicare Rx drug benefit, stem cell research, etc... i looked on the interview feedback page, but there are only a few recent entries. want to make sure to read up on the right issues.
thanks!!!

 

[cheapdate]

Any WA residents hear anything today or see their status page change? I think I'm going nuts, yeah definately, definately... going nuts.

WA resident here. Nope, no change. I don't really care for the process at this point because I have very little control over it now. Whatever will be, will be man. Good luck.

 

[NeuroSync]

Any WA residents hear anything today or see their status page change? I think I'm going nuts, yeah definately, definately... going nuts.

No status will change until sometime on Monday morning, after they enter any new information. I'd try to put it out of my mind for the weekend...

 

[brookester]

Any WA residents hear anything today or see their status page change? I think I'm going nuts, yeah definately, definately... going nuts.

I interviewed last week and got an email today stating that I'm in the competitve pool. What do you think is next? Is this a ranked listing and who else is in a similar situation? I definitely want to go here.

 

[Sarikate]

Brookster, I'm in the same boat - interviewed last week and got the competitive pool e-mail this morning. I don't think it's ranked - they have to wait to interview the rest of the applicants from our state, and then they'll let us know. It's also my top choice! I know your pain!

 

[NeuroSync]

I interviewed last week and got an email today stating that I'm in the competitve pool. What do you think is next? Is this a ranked listing and who else is in a similar situation? I definitely want to go here.

The competitive pool is not ranked. Most people stay in the pool until the final ADCOM meeting, which is mid-March. At those final meetings, the ADCOM fills the class and establishes a waitlist for each of the states. WA has a waitlist of 25 people. In the past, all people on the waitlist got in. The rest of the people are in an unranked competitive pool still. If some are plucked out when the waitlist is exhausted, then Dr. Samson personally selects from that pool. Ergo, if you are not on a waitlist, it would behoove you to make an appointment to see Dr. Samson.

Good luck! 🙂

 

[futuredoc10]

I interviewed last week and got an email today stating that I'm in the competitve pool. What do you think is next? Is this a ranked listing and who else is in a similar situation? I definitely want to go here.

Brookester,
The answer to your question is both Yes and No. After an interview, each applicant is given a "soft ranking", which is ((GPA x 25%) + (MCAT x 25%) + (Interview x 50%)) and also a "word ranking" as either Outstanding, Very Acceptable, Acceptable, or Rejection. So in one way, the pool is ranked. However, at each ADCOM meeting, the 12 members discuss the top group of applicants on the list at that time (around 20-30 applicants) and can either pull applicants up or down in ranking. Most applicants are put into this pool following their interview and most will not hear their final action until the end of March. I am also in the pool and was in it last year for about 5 months until I finally got rejected on April 1st. FYI, last year 51% of the applicants in the competitive pool were eventually either accepted or put on the ranked and unranked waiting lists. Hope that helps.

 

[NeuroSync]

hi guys!
i am interviewing at uw next friday and am super nervous. did the interviewers ask about specific healthcare issues going on now? i.e. medicare Rx drug benefit, stem cell research, etc... i looked on the interview feedback page, but there are only a few recent entries. want to make sure to read up on the right issues.
thanks!!!

Lulu, the committee will be looking to see if you are well-versed in current events, and especially current events/issues in medicine. In other words, there ISN'T anything specific that you need to look at. Start reading the news daily. Read the sections on health/health care. One of the questions they asked me (in October, before the election) was, "Who's plan to fix health care is correct?" Another favorite is, "What's wrong with our healthcare system and how do we fix it?" See what I mean? There is a LOT that goes into the answer of any of those questions. You need to draw from multiple sources.

Don't get too stressed about this. I've read your profile. What they are looking for is someone who really knows what's going on in the world and in healthcare. I think you'll do just fine.

 

[yanita]

hi there,
i was in your shoes, so to speak, last week and was nervous as all getout. however i found that the best advice everyone gave was to be yourself. the interview team at UW seems genuinely interested in learning how you think about issues and problems and in getting a sense of what you care about. if you want a sweet break somewhere in your day, stop by the greenhouse across the street - its small and wonderful plus - literally - you can visit two small and beautiful electric blue and yellow frogs (just to your left after you walk in - they're surinam cobalts, according to the sign, and gave me a good deal of peace!). how's that for random information??
i wish you the best!
🙂
yana

 

[lulubean]

thanks you guys! i really appreciate your words of encouragement. i really really want to end up at this school! so i am taking a deep breath, reading the paper/kaiser website, and hoping for the best! hopefully i will have good new to report after tomorrow! 🙂
best of luck to you all - hopefully i will see you this fall!

 

[NeuroSync]

thanks you guys! i really appreciate your words of encouragement. i really really want to end up at this school! so i am taking a deep breath, reading the paper/kaiser website, and hoping for the best! hopefully i will have good new to report after tomorrow! 🙂
best of luck to you all - hopefully i will see you this fall!

Lulu:
You'll do great! I agree that you just need to be yourself. You already know things about what they will ask. DO look over the ethics site, though. It will help, I think. But try not to be too nervous. They want to have a conversation with you. That want to know who you are. You have a very interesting background and they really like what they see already if you are from CA and have an interview! Go in with a super positive attitude.
Let us know what happens!
Best of luck,
NeuroSync

 

[MedicineBird]

had my interview Tuesday and htey said no decisions would be made until Friday but this morning I was emailed a set of arm floaties. I'm now bobbing along in the competetive pool.

 

[futuredoc10]

had my interview Tuesday and htey said no decisions would be made until Friday but this morning I was emailed a set of arm floaties. I'm now bobbing along in the competetive pool.

Medicine Bird,

Are you a WA applicant or WWAMI?

 

[MedicineBird]

Medicine Bird,

Are you a WA applicant or WWAMI?

WWAMI -- they said they'd decide Wednesday for the WA residents and Friday for WWAMIers. It's a nice fast turn around.

 

[brookester]

WWAMI -- they said they'd decide Wednesday for the WA residents and Friday for WWAMIers. It's a nice fast turn around.

When you say that they will decide on the Washington resident Wednesday... do you mean they are making all Washington final decisions then? I'm from wathington and am too waiting in the competitive pool. Should I be hearing back soon?

 

[MedicineBird]

When you say that they will decide on the Washington resident Wednesday... do you mean they are making all Washington final decisions then? I'm from wathington and am too waiting in the competitive pool. Should I be hearing back soon?

No -- sorry I wasn't clear about that. The wednesday decision about WA residents was only regarding the folks that interviewed on Monday and Tuesday of this week. Although I'm a WWAMI applicant I do live in Seattle so that may be why I got grouped in with them. As for when people will be pulled from the competetive pool they told us it would be in March and last into April.

 

[NeuroSync]

Well, for those of you who have been accepted so far (I think about 45), the first lottery to determine if you will be WWAMI'd to WSU is today (Feb. 11th). We should know today or early next week where our first year home will be. For those of you still waiting for your impending acceptance, the next lottery will be May 18th. Each student is only entered into ONE lottery. So if you dodge the bullet this round, you won't have to worry about it again. If you don't, you can at least start planning for next year.
20 Washington students are sent to WSU in Pullman each year. Sometimes there are volunteers, but rarely enough to fill the class. Therefore, there is a lottery to determine who will go.
I just thought everyone would appreciate that information if you didn't already know.

 

[labrador]

Any idea whether they'll email results of the lottery or snail mail - today or Monday? Anyone going to call?

 

[NeuroSync]

I'm afraid to call. . .
All I know is that Monica said we'd know by early next week.

 

[NeuroSync]

At the risk of being super annoying to the admissions office (hopefully I'm not on a hit list for WSU at this point), I sent off an e-mail to monica asking the following:
(1) Will we hear by e-mail or snail mail?
(2) Will we hear this week or next?
I'll post the answers as soon as I have them. But being that my e-mail is probably not high on the priority list and that it's Friday afternoon, I may not hear back today.
Cheers,
NeuroSync

 

[NeuroSync]

Well, I sent an e-mail and found out I'm on the hit list...a bad thing for my family. sigh.

(1) A letter will be sent out next week telling you if you have to go or not.
(2) If you do, you have two weeks in which to appeal the decision; and
(3) Final the resolution will be sent by both mail and e-mail.

I hope everyone else has better luck... 🙁

 

[fightingsaint]

Everybody's got their own preferences, but the people I know that have gone through the WWAMI-Moscow/Pullman first year loved it. I know Seattle's awesome...but there's something to be said for having smaller classes, more personal attention, and developing a close-knit group of friends in the first year. You might not want to live in that area for various reasons, but just so you know in case you get picked it's not all that bad.