Uwsom

[PUBHEALTH]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

i actually applied the first time right after i graduated. i started working in a research lab at the udub, volunteered, and did some teaching on the side. the exit interview was very helpful in saying that i needed to improve a few things. make sure that you take that advice and use it as a checklist. i made sure to bring up my improvements in my interview the second time around. also, be slightly aggressive in your post interview. come out and ask: "what can i do to strengthen my candidacy?" "was my file even viewed by the committee?" "what were the weakest parts of my application?" "are there any red flags?" The person that you speak with is obviously not obligated to tell you any of this information, but I was lucky and got some revealing answers. hope this helps and feel free to PM me if you have more questions.

 

[Ecuafish]

I will be sure to let you guys know when it starts moving... starting a thread is a good idea as well, at least it will give a general idea of what number the waitlist is at. I imagine that the really major movement will be May 15th.

 

[Dane07MD]

Concerning SMPs and UW. I am at the Georgetown SMP this year, and admittedly am doing VERY well. I got an interview at Georgetown, which is a direct result of my had work here. To score in the top 15% of the medical students here I would say is a good accomplishment, and proof I can hack it in the medical curriculum. Apparently, UW didn't give a **** about that. I'm still wondering what it is they are REALLY looking for... they seem pretty damn full of themselves to me. Hopefully I won't have to re-apply there next year. There are too many other schools in this country that are friendlier and forthright in what they want in their applicants. I'll keep all the regulars (PJ, Contenta, HIV, rural, others) on what happens with me and Creighton/Georgetown. God, I don't want to do the MCAT again either....yuck.

If we all somehow manage to find ourselves in other medical schools in the future, we can start a "In Your Face UW, we are going to be doctors, and you guys can't claim we went to your school when we become world famous" facebook group.

Best of luck to all of you out there...

a few stats for some of you from last year: The ranked waitlist was exhausted, which I believe was 20 or 25 people. They then moved to the unranked and pulled a number of people off. With 20 new spots in the class this year, and probably wanting to avoid going to the unranked list, it seems they expanded the ranked list to probably about 50 people... and if trends follow last year, will probably get to around #30-#48 (gotta keep hope for you, HIVDoc)

 

[HIVdoc2b]

Thanks for keeping the hope alive for me, Dane. I'm dubious about my chances, but I've got no other acceptances (no other waitlists either), so I'll hang on for as long as they'll let me. And, of course, prepare to reapply.

If I were you, I'd still schedule the exit interview. Maybe Teitz will be more helpful than Samson... Hopefully you won't need her advice anyway! Do keep us updated with your Creighton/Georgetown news. I'm pulling for you!

And thanks, Ecuafish, for the stats. Here's hoping for ENORMOUS waitlist movement this year so that LeftCoaster and I get in.

By the way, how much would it suck to be #(X+1) if #X gets the last spot! Woof. The thought makes me ill.

 

[dbldwnmikey]

Concerning SMPs and UW. I am at the Georgetown SMP this year, and admittedly am doing VERY well. I got an interview at Georgetown, which is a direct result of my had work here. To score in the top 15% of the medical students here I would say is a good accomplishment, and proof I can hack it in the medical curriculum. Apparently, UW didn't give a **** about that. I'm still wondering what it is they are REALLY looking for... they seem pretty damn full of themselves to me. Hopefully I won't have to re-apply there next year. There are too many other schools in this country that are friendlier and forthright in what they want in their applicants. I'll keep all the regulars (PJ, Contenta, HIV, rural, others) on what happens with me and Creighton/Georgetown. God, I don't want to do the MCAT again either....yuck.

If we all somehow manage to find ourselves in other medical schools in the future, we can start a "In Your Face UW, we are going to be doctors, and you guys can't claim we went to your school when we become world famous" facebook group.

Best of luck to all of you out there...

a few stats for some of you from last year: The ranked waitlist was exhausted, which I believe was 20 or 25 people. They then moved to the unranked and pulled a number of people off. With 20 new spots in the class this year, and probably wanting to avoid going to the unranked list, it seems they expanded the ranked list to probably about 50 people... and if trends follow last year, will probably get to around #30-#48 (gotta keep hope for you, HIVDoc)

Does anyone else know if that is the reason the larger ranked list this year. Im still waiting to hear if anyone has other info about it, i.e., is the unranked just an f@$%ing sick joke. Also, is spokane and the stated increase in med students also part of it.

 

[HIVdoc2b]

Does anyone else know if that is the reason the larger ranked list this year. Im still waiting to hear if anyone has other info about it, i.e., is the unranked just an f@$%ing sick joke. Also, is spokane and the stated increase in med students also part of it.

Dude, chill out. If you want to know that bad, just call them and ask.

None of us is actually ON the adcom so we can't speak to this with absolute certainty. All we can do is offer our thoughts and opinions.

 

[dbldwnmikey]

Dude, chill out. If you want to know that bad, just call them and ask.

None of us is actually ON the adcom so we can't speak to this with absolute certainty. All we can do is offer our thoughts and opinions.

Please dont tell me to chill out, i never received an answer to my thread so i just thought i would ask again. its just a stupid web forum and i was looking for some answers. plus, admin is not real thrilled with people calling all the time, so thought i would be a bit curtious.

ps. thanks for telling me you are not on the adcom, it was touch and go for a moment there😉

 

[cptjpmcdoogle]

Hey HIVdoc2b,

I'm #49, so we're like best friends now right? I was also thinking that the ranked list might be bigger this year because of the Spokane addition. Not sure if 20 more slots will mean 25 more alt list acceptances... but I guess we can cross our fingers.

Oh, and I too did not receive any acceptances... just three alternate lists at UW, BU, and Case.

So close, and yet so far away.

 

[LeftCoaster]

Not sure if 20 more slots will mean 25 more alt list acceptances... but I guess we can cross our fingers.

I'm thinking 20 additional slots in this class will only increase the waitlist movement slightly. i.e. if normally they go through about 25-30 people off the waitlist to fill 180 spots. Another 20 spots will probably only yield 3 or 4 more people off the waitlist. I'm guessing the absolute last person to come off the waitlist will be in the 30-35 range...

That is complete speculation, however, and is only if this year's responses match the trends from the past few years.

 

[dbldwnmikey]

Hey HIVdoc2b,

I'm #49, so we're like best friends now right? I was also thinking that the ranked list might be bigger this year because of the Spokane addition. Not sure if 20 more slots will mean 25 more alt list acceptances... but I guess we can cross our fingers.

Oh, and I too did not receive any acceptances... just three alternate lists at UW, BU, and Case.

So close, and yet so far away.

No, were not best friends, LOL. I do, however, sympathize with the waitlist situation though. I think the best ill hope for is a positive exit interview and a chance for the admin to get to know me for next year.

anyone considering DO if they dont make it in this year?

 

[HIVdoc2b]

Hey HIVdoc2b,

I'm #49, so we're like best friends now right? I was also thinking that the ranked list might be bigger this year because of the Spokane addition. Not sure if 20 more slots will mean 25 more alt list acceptances... but I guess we can cross our fingers.

Oh, and I too did not receive any acceptances... just three alternate lists at UW, BU, and Case.

So close, and yet so far away.

#47. BAM! LeftCoaster.
#48. BAM! me.
#49. BAM! cptjpmcdoogle.

Does that straight beat anything? I think we should start a "proud to be the bitter end of the UWSOM ranked waitlist" club. At least I have some company down here!

LeftCoaster, I would tend to agree with your analysis. I think I heard 29 tossed around as last year's number of kids pulled off the waitlist. 29/80 (number of seats) is 36.25%. So that means for 100 seats, we're probably still 10-15 spots short of an acceptance.

However, in the absence of something better to do, I'm going to hold out hope for all of us here... especially Dane and ruraldr and PJ and Contenta, without whom I'd have gone absolutely insane the last month or so. Even if not the UW, I hope something good comes through for you.

 

[[pj]]

However, in the absence of something better to do, I'm going to hold out hope for all of us here... especially Dane and ruraldr and PJ and Contenta, without whom I'd have gone absolutely insane the last month or so. Even if not the UW, I hope something good comes through for you.

Good luck to you too! It's been a long, seemingly overdrawn process at times. Who knows what'll happen next. And like Dane said, if we all go different places, then we can become world famous and make a facebook group for it

As for the extended waitlist, I think it might have to do with the new dean making changes to the process. By making a longer ranked list, you eliminate the ambiguity of taking people from the unranked list. Also, with 20 spots in Spokane, maybe they're preparing for more people than usual to jump ship. This is all speculation, of course, but good luck guys.

 

[HIVdoc2b]

Good luck to you too! It's been a long, seemingly overdrawn process at times. Who knows what'll happen next. And like Dane said, if we all go different places, then we can become world famous and make a facebook group for it

As for the extended waitlist, I think it might have to do with the new dean making changes to the process. By making a longer ranked list, you eliminate the ambiguity of taking people from the unranked list. Also, with 20 spots in Spokane, maybe they're preparing for more people than usual to jump ship. This is all speculation, of course, but good luck guys.

By all means, Spokane people! JUMP SHIP! I'll go to Spokane. Not that it's my destination of choice but by god, if that's what it takes, I will SO be there.

Sigh. And the waiting continues.

 

[cptjpmcdoogle]

I'm actually all about Spokane. All of my family is in Spokane, and my grandparents (on both sides of the family) have become very sick as of late. I'd like to get the chance to see them as much as possible while still attending a world class institution for medical school.

 

[HIVdoc2b]

It pains me to see this thread not on the first page, so here's a BUMP.

Anyone know what happened to raychacha and carondo? You guys lurking or what?

Also. The extreme good end (<15) and extreme not so good end (>45) of the waitlist are represented, but we don't seem to have anyone in the middle. Anyone out there in the 20s and 30s? Might be nice to have a broad range of waitlisters so that it's easier to keep tabs on waitlist movement!

 

[nathan575]

#29 here....not sure what to think

 

[camn]

I'm #19
Middle of the pack. . but I feel confident.

c

 

[HIVdoc2b]

Hey Ecuafish (and all), good news. I just talked to Brooke about scheduling an exit interview and also asked about waitlist movement. #1 is about to be accepted! So, Ecuafish let us know when it becomes official, and let me be the first to congratulate you on your acceptance!

My fingers are crossed for a WHOLE LOT of movement this year. Because otherwise, I have a date with the MCAT. Or, I guess I have a date with the MCAT either way since I doubt they'd get to #48 before I have to retake it.

Oh UW. You're breaking my heart.

 

[dbldwnmikey]

Hey Ecuafish (and all), good news. I just talked to Brooke about scheduling an exit interview and also asked about waitlist movement. #1 is about to be accepted! So, Ecuafish let us know when it becomes official, and let me be the first to congratulate you on your acceptance!

My fingers are crossed for a WHOLE LOT of movement this year. Because otherwise, I have a date with the MCAT. Or, I guess I have a date with the MCAT either way since I doubt they'd get to #48 before I have to retake it.

Oh UW. You're breaking my heart.

It seems that people low on the ranked or unranked list are convinced they should retake the mcat. Im curious to know what people on these lists have for scores (ie., GPA, Mcat, ranked or unranked) and what they think they need to get in.

Also, UW tries to give the impression that Mcat is not that important (compared to other md schools), im curious to see what people think about the subject.

Myself, i have a 29Q mcat, 3.65 GPA, an unranked alternate spot, and i think that the 25% mcat and 25% weighted GPA (which is silly for people who have completed a senior year) probably screwed me. I believe i have the 50% non-numerical factor of the application well covered (i.e., masters degree, lots of work exp, and research).

 

[camn]

It seems that people low on the ranked or unranked list are convinced they should retake the mcat. Im curious to know what people on these lists have for scores (ie., GPA, Mcat, ranked or unranked) and what they think they need to get in.

Also, UW tries to give the impression that Mcat is not that important (compared to other md schools), im curious to see what people think about the subject.

Myself, i have a 29Q mcat, 3.65 GPA, an unranked alternate spot, and i think that the 25% mcat and 25% weighted GPA (which is silly for people who have completed a senior year) probably screwed me. I believe i have the 50% non-numerical factor of the application well covered (i.e., masters degree, lots of work exp, and research).

Well. look. Im real similar to you. .. .the non-score parts I really covered well. I have a TON of clinical experience, I killed on my interview.. I had about a 3.7 GPA. . .but I had a 34S on my MCATs. I got #19.

so maybe it is important?

c

 

[dbldwnmikey]

Well. look. Im real similar to you. .. .the non-score parts I really covered well. I have a TON of clinical experience, I killed on my interview.. I had about a 3.7 GPA. . .but I had a 34S on my MCATs. I got #19.

so maybe it is important?

c

You maybe right, kinda wondering what kind of pattern will emerge between rank list and mcat when more people reply.

 

[HIVdoc2b]

It seems that people low on the ranked or unranked list are convinced they should retake the mcat. Im curious to know what people on these lists have for scores (ie., GPA, Mcat, ranked or unranked) and what they think they need to get in.

The only people that have mentioned the MCAT in recent memory are Dane (rejected), DrMidlife (rejected), tbpap (Wyoming waitlist) and AlaskaHopeful (Alaska waitlist), and me. And I should point out that tbpap and AlaskaHopeful are not "low on the ranked" waitlist.

As for my numbers, I come to this thread for friendship and support, not to compare myself to anyone else, or be so compared.

/rant

 

[Dane07MD]

It's important. I have a lot of experience, a median GPA (weighted by UW because they are aware I went to a difficult school, and a 29P. They told me the MCAT was the reason I got rejected this year. They like number. An MCAT retake with at least a 33 would probably get me closer to an acceptance. We'll see, I'm hoping I dont have to re-apply there

 

[dbldwnmikey]

The only people that have mentioned the MCAT in recent memory are Dane (rejected), DrMidlife (rejected), tbpap (Wyoming waitlist) and AlaskaHopeful (Alaska waitlist), and me. And I should point out that tbpap and AlaskaHopeful are not "low on the ranked" waitlist.

As for my numbers, I come to this thread for friendship and support, not to compare myself to anyone else, or be so compared.

/rant

WOW! I dont know where to start with this one. First off, if you come to this website for friendship and support than maybe you should get a dog, find a hobby, or go see a shrink. It just a website for premeds, stop being so damned sensitive. Second, its not a contest to inquire about scores and grades, its just an honest question about the relevance of such things as they pertain to an application. HIVDOC, if you dont like my post than simply quit replying to them and wasting my time.👍

For anyone else who is not concerned with friendship, support, puppy dogs, ice cream, and rainbows...(what a joke). I have found a couple of posts from non-minority, non-legacies who got in to uw and other ivy leagues with 27-29 mcat scores.

 

[[pj]]

WOW! I dont know where to start with this one. First off, if you come to this website for friendship and support than maybe you should get a dog, find a hobby, or go see a shrink. It just a website for premeds, stop being so damned sensitive. Second, its not a contest to inquire about scores and grades, its just an honest question about the relevance of such things as they pertain to an application. HIVDOC, if you dont like my post than simply quit replying to them and wasting my time.👍

For anyone else who is not concerned with friendship, support, puppy dogs, ice cream, and rainbows...(what a joke). I have found a couple of posts from non-minority, non-legacies who got in to uw and other ivy leagues with 27-29 mcat scores.

Maybe you should chill out man. I hate using that term, but seriously, I don't understand your deal. A lot of us have been here discussing things for a long time. You, on the other hand, have showed up recently (which in itself is fine), but obviously you don't understand what we're doing here, which is more than being stupid premeds trying to get a leg up. All you've done here is ask about the waitlist, make retorts when people tell you to chill out, etc., and ask about MCAT.

Med school is more than just getting in, getting good grades, and whatever; it's also about building professional relationships and working together. You'll probably say that you know all this, blah blah blah, which is what I'd hope you say cause if you don't say it then obviously you're misinformed.

I'm sure you're a nice guy and all. Maybe it's the internet that's making me think you're an idiot. I hope it's true, cause the internet does crazy things to people. But seriously, just cause one person disagrees with something you say doesn't make it necessary to insult people. Obviously, you need some thicker skin.

I'm sure you'll reply to everything I say, telling me that it's a joke, etc. etc. Go ahead, maybe you're right, that you're the opposite of what I think about you. Who knows, I'll probably never meet you. But seriously, chill out man.

And just to appease you: your MCAT theory means little. I'm currently unranked, but I have a fairly decent MCAT (upper-side of mid-30s). Overall, UW wants people with a decent bit of everything (i.e. good GPA, MCAT, ECs, LORs, and interview). Being spectacular at one thing won't necessarily make up for being poor in another area. I could go more into detail, but I'm sure you get the idea.

In either case, good luck mikey. I'm sure you're a nice guy.

 

[dbldwnmikey]

Maybe you should chill out man. I hate using that term, but seriously, I don't understand your deal. A lot of us have been here discussing things for a long time. You, on the other hand, have showed up recently (which in itself is fine), but obviously you don't understand what we're doing here, which is more than being stupid premeds trying to get a leg up. All you've done here is ask about the waitlist, make retorts when people tell you to chill out, etc., and ask about MCAT.

Med school is more than just getting in, getting good grades, and whatever; it's also about building professional relationships and working together. You'll probably say that you know all this, blah blah blah, which is what I'd hope you say cause if you don't say it then obviously you're misinformed.

I'm sure you're a nice guy and all. Maybe it's the internet that's making me think you're an idiot. I hope it's true, cause the internet does crazy things to people. But seriously, just cause one person disagrees with something you say doesn't make it necessary to insult people. Obviously, you need some thicker skin.

I'm sure you'll reply to everything I say, telling me that it's a joke, etc. etc. Go ahead, maybe you're right, that you're the opposite of what I think about you. Who knows, I'll probably never meet you. But seriously, chill out man.

And just to appease you: your MCAT theory means little. I'm currently unranked, but I have a fairly decent MCAT (upper-side of mid-30s). Overall, UW wants people with a decent bit of everything (i.e. good GPA, MCAT, ECs, LORs, and interview). Being spectacular at one thing won't necessarily make up for being poor in another area. I could go more into detail, but I'm sure you get the idea.

In either case, good luck mikey. I'm sure you're a nice guy.

Thanks for the reply. I actually agree with your assesment that uw looks for well rounded students and i appreciate your answer. i was just trying to see if people had other opinions. As for the reply to HIVDOC, i was just having a little fun with someone who seemed to take offense at a pretty innocent web post (2x i might add).

I really enjoy having a forum to talk to other UW hopefulls, but i think all this drama is ridiculous and this might be my last post (the reason i joined this thread so late in the game was that i feared these chats would end up as they obviously do, too emotional). Im not knocking on anyone for enjoying to chat online. I think its great.🙂 Honestly, almost everyone has been cool to talk to and i have found most of the posts useful.

ps. Did anyone catch the Swingers movie reference to my double down mikey name? Vince Vaughn anyone?

 

[HIVdoc2b]

Thanks for the reply. I actually agree with your assesment that uw looks for well rounded students and i appreciate your answer. i was just trying to see if people had other opinions. As for the reply to HIVDOC, i was just having a little fun with someone who seemed to take offense at a pretty innocent web post (2x i might add).

I really enjoy having a forum to talk to other UW hopefulls, but i think all this drama is ridiculous and this might be my last post (the reason i joined this thread so late in the game was that i feared these chats would end up as they obviously do, too emotional). Im not knocking on anyone for enjoying to chat online. I think its great.🙂 Honestly, almost everyone has been cool to talk to and i have found most of the posts useful.

I didn't take offense to your MCAT/waitlist position post. I merely pointed out that in fact, only one person from the unranked or low end of the ranked had discussed the MCAT (me). My unwillingness to share my stats was not personal - stats don't tell the whole story. Besides, fora like these with neurotic premeds stressing out over ONLY having a 42S and a 3.97 GPA just encourage neuroticism and drama.

I will, however, take some mild offense to your reply to my post. That was un-called for. That said, I harbor no ill will towards you - that would be a pretty lame reason to be seriously offended and I have better things to be upset about in life than a comment made semi-anonymously on some premed web forum. And for the record. I DO happen to like puppies, ice cream, and rainbows. Guilty as charged. I also enjoy downhill ski racing, chick flicks, music, and working with biosafety level 3 pathogens.

 

[HIVdoc2b]

Random question for the Seattle-area waitlisters. Have y'all gotten your waitlist notification letters? My status says I should receive mine by April 10 (tomorrow), and it's not like it had to go any particular distance... but I have seen neither hide nor hair of it.

Thanks.

 

[LeftCoaster]

no letter here either... I figure it's a bit moot at this point since I already know the gist of it though.

 

[HIVdoc2b]

Yeah, I mean I know the main point of the letter, but am curious to know if there are any other useful bits of information in there. Like time frame for exit interviews.

LeftCoaster, have you/are you going to set up an exit interview?

 

[Pyrotechnick]

Yeah, I mean I know the main point of the letter, but am curious to know if there are any other useful bits of information in there. Like time frame for exit interviews.

LeftCoaster, have you/are you going to set up an exit interview?

Hi HIVDOC. I haven't received my letter yet, and it was supposed to come on 4/4. To kill some time, you might want to check out this website, if you haven't yet: http://depts.washington.edu/mdadmit/interview/after.htm. It says to contact Stella after May 1 for the exit interview.

BTW, I am unranked at UW, but as an out-of-WWAMI applicant I guess I'm lucky to have received an interview.

 

[Doc Henry]

I'd just like to say that although I don't contribute to this thread because I didn't apply this year, I am very proud of how long its been going! I think the PNW is under-represented on SDN and it has been nice to read about UW.

To all of you on the waitlist
To all of you who are accepted

To everyone who is rejected, hope you got in somewhere else, or have better luck next year.


I really appreciate all the info I've gotten from you, thanks guys!

 

[[pj]]

Thanks for the reply. I actually agree with your assesment that uw looks for well rounded students and i appreciate your answer. i was just trying to see if people had other opinions. As for the reply to HIVDOC, i was just having a little fun with someone who seemed to take offense at a pretty innocent web post (2x i might add).

I really enjoy having a forum to talk to other UW hopefulls, but i think all this drama is ridiculous and this might be my last post (the reason i joined this thread so late in the game was that i feared these chats would end up as they obviously do, too emotional). Im not knocking on anyone for enjoying to chat online. I think its great.🙂 Honestly, almost everyone has been cool to talk to and i have found most of the posts useful.

ps. Did anyone catch the Swingers movie reference to my double down mikey name? Vince Vaughn anyone?

It's all good. This time of year can be stressful and the internet does crazy things to people. At the same time, it's easy to read into what people say too much or take it the wrong way. It's all water under the bridge. But you should keep posting, just cause it's always good to have multiple people's views, etc. etc. Good luck man with everything.

 

[[pj]]

Random question for the Seattle-area waitlisters. Have y'all gotten your waitlist notification letters? My status says I should receive mine by April 10 (tomorrow), and it's not like it had to go any particular distance... but I have seen neither hide nor hair of it.

Thanks.

Hi HIVDOC. I haven't received my letter yet, and it was supposed to come on 4/4. To kill some time, you might want to check out this website, if you haven't yet: http://depts.washington.edu/mdadmit/interview/after.htm. It says to contact Stella after May 1 for the exit interview.

BTW, I am unranked at UW, but as an out-of-WWAMI applicant I guess I'm lucky to have received an interview.

No word here yet. I was also supposed to get my letter on 04/04/08. I guess it won't make a difference at this point, but still, more waiting?! That's the name of the game.

 

[sultana]

Just emailed Admissions yesterday...apparently I'm #51 on the ranked list (better than nothing!) I'm not really sure what that means, though...Do they usually go through the entire ranked list? (I'm assuming that not every single person offered a spot from the list accepts, so do any of at the end of the list have a prayer??) fortunately I have another acceptance, but dang...the waiting is killing me! when can we expect to hear something back??

btw, I'm a 33 MCAT, 3.57 GPA UW-instate student...so I'm not sure about the whole MCAT affecting rank thing.

 

[LeftCoaster]

ps. Did anyone catch the Swingers movie reference to my double down mikey name? Vince Vaughn anyone?

Double Down-
Oh yeah. I totally got your old school reference. It's a classic flick.

 

[Ecuafish]

Well the waitlist has started to move! I was #1 on the waitlist, so I hope it is a good sign that it has already started moving in the beginning of April... still a month away from when people have to select only one school. Good luck to everyone else and hopefully we get some substantial movement this year 😀

 

[Woniu]

Well the waitlist has started to move! I was #1 on the waitlist, so I hope it is a good sign that it has already started moving in the beginning of April... still a month away from when people have to select only one school. Good luck to everyone else and hopefully we get some substantial movement this year 😀

Wooohoooo! Congrats Ecuafish!

 

[Woniu]

Hey, is there anyone else about who is under 5 on the waitlist?

 

[AlaskaHopeful]

And for the record. I DO happen to like puppies, ice cream, and rainbows. Guilty as charged. I also enjoy downhill ski racing, chick flicks, music, and working with biosafety level 3 pathogens.

nice comeback!! 😀

Hey HIVdoc2b - Thanks for all the great comments and encouragement. This thread has been very enjoyable to read! BTW- I haven't heard anything new here, still waiting!

- Congrats!! Ecuafish!!!

 

[jenbrown25]

Another waitlist question: I haven't yet received my letter either, but I did speak with Ms. Anh in admissions who let me know I'm #22 on the ranked list. Since I haven't received my letter, I'm not exactly sure what we should do at this point. Does anyone know if we can/should continue to send updates to the admissions committee?? I know that the excom already had their last meeting, so I'm assuming the rankings are concrete and we don't need to give them any further info to consider... but just wanted to clarify this w/ you guys. Thanks!

 

[HIVdoc2b]

Just emailed Admissions yesterday...apparently I'm #51 on the ranked list (better than nothing!) I'm not really sure what that means, though...Do they usually go through the entire ranked list? (I'm assuming that not every single person offered a spot from the list accepts, so do any of at the end of the list have a prayer??) fortunately I have another acceptance, but dang...the waiting is killing me! when can we expect to hear something back??

Been lots of discussion about this. In past years, the waitlist has only been 20-25ish people, and in recent history they've been getting all or most of the way through it. This year, though, it's twice as long (you're the highest I've heard)... At #48, I'm doubtful that they'll get to me.

As to WHEN... well, my guess is sometime between now and the end of August. Yay for being left hanging for potentially five more months.

JenBrown - that's an interesting question. My guess (I'm doing lots of guessing in this post) is that continued updates probably won't advance you on the list but if you have something extra cool/exciting/awesome, you might tell them anyway. Probably can't hurt you.

 

[HIVdoc2b]

nice comeback!! 😀

Hey HIVdoc2b - Thanks for all the great comments and encouragement. This thread has been very enjoyable to read! BTW- I haven't heard anything new here, still waiting!

😀 Thanks. I'm enjoying this thread too. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one in the competitive list => waitlist boat.

Still waiting here, too. Waiting, I suppose, is the name of the game.

 

[dbldwnmikey]

2 things... first, judging from the response i recieved from admissions it sounds as if they have went as deep as 40 on the list before. If you factor in spokane and a little luck, i think some of you 40+ people have a shot (which kind of sucks cause ya gotta hold onto some hope).

second, does anyone know of a good book for med school ethical interview questions?

 

[HIVdoc2b]

2 things... first, judging from the response i recieved from admissions it sounds as if they have went as deep as 40 on the list before. If you factor in spokane and a little luck, i think some of you 40+ people have a shot (which kind of sucks cause ya gotta hold onto some hope).

second, does anyone know of a good book for med school ethical interview questions?

Here's hoping for a lot of luck so that you guys on the unranked list get some love too! (And rainbows. And puppy dogs. And ice cream? 🙄)

With regards to ethics. Have you heard about the UW's Bioethics site? Google it - it's way concise and tells you about all the information you REALLY need on all the current relavent topics. If a topic or two pique your curiosity, you can always read more elsewhere, but the bioethics site should equip you reasonably well (or so I'm told - I really boned up on ethics and then didn't get asked any. I got health policy until I wanted to gouge my eyeballs out with a fork, though!)

Other than the UW Bioethics site, if you have access to back issues of JAMA and the New England Journal, both have bioethics articles on lots of topics. I believe NEJM's was the set I really liked. I may be wrong but I think some were free access too.

Also, for sheer Northwest ethics trivia, try looking up the God Squad with relationship to kidney dialysis. Dialysis got its start in Seattle but the time on the machines was so valuable that they designated a group of people who decided which patients got dialysis. Those that didn't, usually died. They based their decisions on age, societal "worth", etc, which is pretty darned unethical... Pretty interesting stuff. I'm interested in transplant ethics/resource allocation so I also read a LOT on the UNOS website, about protocols for deciding who gets organs.

Ok, I'll stop being geeky now.

Oh. One final ethics note, and this one is specific to UWSOM. At least in the Samson era, they tended not to ask about abortion much because Samson thought it was too political. Whether this applies in the Teitz era, I don't know.

 

[Doc Henry]

Here's hoping for a lot of luck so that you guys on the unranked list get some love too! (And rainbows. And puppy dogs. And ice cream? 🙄)

With regards to ethics. Have you heard about the UW's Bioethics site? Google it - it's way concise and tells you about all the information you REALLY need on all the current relavent topics. If a topic or two pique your curiosity, you can always read more elsewhere, but the bioethics site should equip you reasonably well (or so I'm told - I really boned up on ethics and then didn't get asked any. I got health policy until I wanted to gouge my eyeballs out with a fork, though!)

Other than the UW Bioethics site, if you have access to back issues of JAMA and the New England Journal, both have bioethics articles on lots of topics. I believe NEJM's was the set I really liked. I may be wrong but I think some were free access too.

Also, for sheer Northwest ethics trivia, try looking up the God Squad with relationship to kidney dialysis. Dialysis got its start in Seattle but the time on the machines was so valuable that they designated a group of people who decided which patients got dialysis. Those that didn't, usually died. They based their decisions on age, societal "worth", etc, which is pretty darned unethical... Pretty interesting stuff. I'm interested in transplant ethics/resource allocation so I also read a LOT on the UNOS website, about protocols for deciding who gets organs.

Ok, I'll stop being geeky now.

Oh. One final ethics note, and this one is specific to UWSOM. At least in the Samson era, they tended not to ask about abortion much because Samson thought it was too political. Whether this applies in the Teitz era, I don't know.

WOW...sounds like you really knew your stuff. I'm so sorry you didn't get asked about any of this.

Out of curiosity, did you have some background that made them think to ask you about health policy, or was it pretty random? Were they pretty harsh about your answers...I mean, did they expect you to have a really in depth knowledge, and well thought out answers?

 

[[pj]]

second, does anyone know of a good book for med school ethical interview questions?

With regards to ethics. Have you heard about the UW's Bioethics site? Google it - it's way concise and tells you about all the information you REALLY need on all the current relavent topics. If a topic or two pique your curiosity, you can always read more elsewhere, but the bioethics site should equip you reasonably well (or so I'm told - I really boned up on ethics and then didn't get asked any. I got health policy until I wanted to gouge my eyeballs out with a fork, though!)

Speaking of the bioethics site: http://depts.washington.edu/bioethx/topics/index.html

Knock yourself out!

WOW...sounds like you really knew your stuff. I'm so sorry you didn't get asked about any of this.

Out of curiosity, did you have some background that made them think to ask you about health policy, or was it pretty random? Were they pretty harsh about your answers...I mean, did they expect you to have a really in depth knowledge, and well thought out answers?

There's a Interview Feedback section on SDN. I think you can find it from the mainpage somewhere somehow. They have interview information from previous interviewees, who all indicate medical ethics and health policy were brought up in the interview. I can only agree with what they say.

As far as a good health policy book, I read through "Understanding Health Policy" (or something like that) by Bodenheimer and some other guy. Pretty decent read, can be dense, but tells you most of what you need to know. If you're planning on studying this, make sure you do it ahead of time! There's so much info that it's difficult to cram it all, in particular the health policy.

 

[dbldwnmikey]

Speaking of the bioethics site: http://depts.washington.edu/bioethx/topics/index.html

Knock yourself out!



There's a Interview Feedback section on SDN. I think you can find it from the mainpage somewhere somehow. They have interview information from previous interviewees, who all indicate medical ethics and health policy were brought up in the interview. I can only agree with what they say.

As far as a good health policy book, I read through "Understanding Health Policy" (or something like that) by Bodenheimer and some other guy. Pretty decent read, can be dense, but tells you most of what you need to know. If you're planning on studying this, make sure you do it ahead of time! There's so much info that it's difficult to cram it all, in particular the health policy.

thanks for the reply. I have used the uw bioethics site (nice and concise) and i will check out the books/websites. Yeah, i was amazed at all the possible questions i reviewed before the interview and how few i was asked.

ps i love puppy dogs and ice cream too (cold stone)

 

[Doc Henry]

Speaking of the bioethics site: http://depts.washington.edu/bioethx/topics/index.html

Knock yourself out!



There's a Interview Feedback section on SDN. I think you can find it from the mainpage somewhere somehow. They have interview information from previous interviewees, who all indicate medical ethics and health policy were brought up in the interview. I can only agree with what they say.

As far as a good health policy book, I read through "Understanding Health Policy" (or something like that) by Bodenheimer and some other guy. Pretty decent read, can be dense, but tells you most of what you need to know. If you're planning on studying this, make sure you do it ahead of time! There's so much info that it's difficult to cram it all, in particular the health policy.

Thanks for the info. I actually feel relatively good about my knowledge of the system and how it works. I went out of my way to take "Intro to US Health Care System" last term and I took a lot away from it (including a strong letter from the public health prof🙂)

I'm just curious how they treat these discussions. I will look in to interview feedback, but I mainly was trying to get a sense of whether they were just trying to feel you out and see if you were educated on the subject, or whether they expected you to be confident enough to come right out and say what the problems in the system are today and how you would fix them

I personally can identify many problems, but when it comes to fixing them, I would admit defeat! I have ideas, but with every improvement in one area, there seems to be a problem created in another...

 

[HIVdoc2b]

{Preface: I'm mostly directing this response to Doc Henry because I think most of us here have played this game... but if there are others lurking out there and you have questions, delurk and ask. I'm sure any of us here would be happy to try and answer!}

I personally can identify many problems, but when it comes to fixing them, I would admit defeat! I have ideas, but with every improvement in one area, there seems to be a problem created in another...

Heh... yeah, which is probably why no one has yet solved our healthcare woes. AdComs want to see that you haven't been living under a rock for the last 20 years, that you pay attention to the news and have some idea how the healthcare system works, and that you can think. You don't have to identify every single problem - you'd be there for weeks, after all - but pick a couple of big ones that you can talk about confidently.

There was nothing in my app that suggested that I would or would not know about health policy. I'm a reasonably hardcore scientist by training and I tend to flee the room screaming when politics comes up. However, it's one of UW's common topics, and the interview feedback captures the essense of how they will ask it, and I prepared accordingly. By the way, DO read the interview feedback - it's incredibly useful. What they asked about health policy is pretty basic - what's wrong with the system, how would you fix it, and maybe a couple more specific but not special cases. They weren't harsh either (at least, not to me). They don't expect you to have the answers. If you did, you should be going into politics, not medicine. 😀 Just don't do what I did and sound like a *****. The sad thing for me was, I had reasonable answers thought out but just got flustered and fell flat on my face. 😱 *see earlier posts in this thread where we compared our interviewing skills to dirty socks!* If only they'd asked PAS or resource allocation or ANY ethics questions...

So here's the take-home message on both ethics and health policy. You don't have to know the answers, no one does, and in most cases there are no "right" answers. Show them that you know how to think and that you do think. That mostly means, don't say anything too outlandish, be prepared to explain your rationale, and whatever stance you take, stand up for it. Just don't be cocky. Being cocky in an interview will earn you a rejection.

Finally, my last bit of wisdom to impart to you, at least for tonight. There's no way you can prepare for every question any committee might ever ask. None. Nor should you. For the ones that come up over and over and over, think it through and come up with maybe some general points you'd like to touch upon. This applies to "why doctor" and ethics and everything else.

Okay, now all this ice cream talk is going to prompt me to go dig out a pint of Ben and Jerry's. YUM. (see what you started, Mikey?)

PJ, thanks for looking up the bioethics link. I was, alas, too lazy...