weird phone call from UK admissions

[aparecida]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So today I get this call from the associate director of admissions at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. This is where I go for undergrad currently. My LORs mailed last week and I haven't yet been invited for an interview.

"Hi! We received your recommendations a couple of days ago, and I'm looking over your file. You look like someone who's going to have *a lot of options.* So -- since you're here in town anyway, would you be interested in coming by to discuss what direction to go in?" I can't remember the exact wording, but I remember it being ambiguous and confusing. She tells me that this isn't an interview, it's like a 'pre-interview,' and I shouldn't wear a suit or anything, and she sets a date for next Monday at noon.

Any thoughts on what the heck this means? Has anyone gotten a call like this? How seriously should I take it? I'm nervous now. By "options," I don't know whether she means "different schools I can go to" or "different programs I can go into"; I hope it's the first, because that would imply they're basically trying to recruit me, whereas if it's the second, I'm worrying because I don't necessarily know what kind of medicine I want to go into yet.

My stats are: GPA 3.02 (due to nonacademic circumstances I have some F's in there, but mostly A's with occasional B's), BCPM GPA 4.0, MCAT 40S (14PS 13VR 13BS).

 

[willthatsall]

It's the 40

 

[adamj61]

So today I get this call from the associate director of admissions at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. This is where I go for undergrad currently. My LORs mailed last week and I haven't yet been invited for an interview.

"Hi! We received your recommendations a couple of days ago, and I'm looking over your file. You look like someone who's going to have *a lot of options.* So -- since you're here in town anyway, would you be interested in coming by to discuss what direction to go in?" I can't remember the exact wording, but I remember it being ambiguous and confusing. She tells me that this isn't an interview, it's like a 'pre-interview,' and I shouldn't wear a suit or anything, and she sets a date for next Monday at noon.

Any thoughts on what the heck this means? Has anyone gotten a call like this? How seriously should I take it? I'm nervous now. By "options," I don't know whether she means "different schools I can go to" or "different programs I can go into"; I hope it's the first, because that would imply they're basically trying to recruit me, whereas if it's the second, I'm worrying because I don't necessarily know what kind of medicine I want to go into yet.

My stats are: GPA 3.02 (due to nonacademic circumstances I have some F's in there, but mostly A's with occasional B's), BCPM GPA 4.0, MCAT 40S (14PS 13VR 13BS).

No one with a 40 would think anything other than that the school obviously wants to make you an offer since you will get in anywhere you want (well if you have no personality you always have WashU right?)

There is no way this many 40's can exist...SDN accounts for 200% of the 40+ scores, every 2 weeks we get another one.... 👎

 

[aparecida]

I'm not a troll, thanks much. I just don't understand why they want to "pre-interview." And my application looks really weird, thanks to three straight failed semesters followed by a withdraw semester and a year taken off after that, plus the fact that I was a hardcore humanities major until I started the premed requirements a year ago. So I was seriously concerned I might not get any interviews at all, MCAT or no MCAT -- I have no real idea how adcoms will view my app. I think this call is legitimately weird, I've never heard of anything like it, so I'd like to know what the deal is.

I've been called many things before, but "bleeping idiot troll" isn't one of them. 🙂 This board has a lower level of overall civility than any I've posted at, I swear. (And, generally, the person who uses the profanity, name-calls, and doesn't use punctuation is the troll... hmm.)

 

[ToxicFugu]

Why don't you just call UK admissions office and ask what the deal is? Just be straightforward. Say that the call you recieved is very different from standard protocol with med school admissions and that you just wanted to clarify/confirm the invitation.

by the way, dood, you have crazy stats! and your handle, aparecida, sounds hispanic. are you latina? if so, i'm not surprised that med schools are drooling all over you. how come you didn't apply to more schools (saw your mdapplicants profile). you'd be competitive at all of the top tier schools...provided, of course, that you explain that the personal issues that you faced won't reoccur in med school. in fact, you could probably use that as your "hardship." anyhow, gl.

 

[aparecida]

aw, thank you for believing me! I might do that, or I might just ask them when I go in there Monday what exactly is going on. Depends how curious/nervous I get.

I'm not Latina (I'm Chinese/white mixed), but I'm fluent in Spanish ... I'm just good with languages. I didn't apply to the other top schools because my parents didn't want me to go more than eight hours' drive away 🙂 and because I didn't want to go to a school that was hypercompetitive or extremely research-oriented. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, I had no idea how schools would see my application, so I didn't want to apply to a bunch of schools if I had no shot at getting in. Thanks, that's really sweet of you ... totally makes my day after, ahem, previous rudeness.

 

[futuremsfdoc]

hey, the same thing happened to me at my home university. the main dean started recruiting me heavily last summer and we've gotten to the point where we're on a first name basis with each other. it's nothing more than an opportunity to meet an administrator and gain a good connection, imho. don't think of it as an automatic acceptance, but do think of it as a good sign and something you should pursue further.

also, although nothing is definite in this process, you sound like as much of a lock at that university as anyone could be. so i'd go in to this meeting/regular interviews relaxed and confident that they'll be recruiting you.

 

[EvoDevo]

Word to the wise: Any other comemnts like adamj61's in this forum will earn the poster a "time out" post hold. Watch the asinine and immature commentary, folks.

Oh, and this also applies to any URM/AA threads as well.

From the SDN Terms of Service:

BY ACCESSING OR USING THE STUDENT DOCTOR NETWORK, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE SDN ONLINE SERVICE AGREEMENT: CLICK HERE TO READ IN ITS ENTIRETY. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE BOUND BY THE AGREEMENT, YOU MAY NOT ACCESS OR USE THE STUDENT DOCTOR NETWORK.

....Inappropriate Language


The use of inappropriate or offensive language is not permitted in these forums. Inappropriate or offensive language includes, but is not limited to, any language or content that is sexually oriented, sexually suggestive or abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, profane, hateful, or that contains racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable material of any kind. We ask that you please be considerate to other members in the forums when posting your messages.


Harassment and Flaming


The Student Doctor Network members are not permitted to harass or "flame" other members. Please do not post or transmit any unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, profane, hateful, racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable material of any kind, including, but not limited to, any material which encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, violate the rights of others, or otherwise violate any applicable local, state, national or international law. Please note that this also includes the posting of taunts on a forum solely for the purpose of deriding that forum's topic and/or members.

--------------------
Thanks, the Management.

 

[aparecida]

thanks, Evo. Seriously.

futuremsfdoc, thanks for the reassurance. I think your perspective is good. Much appreciated. I'll try not to stress too much about it 🙂

 

[adamj61]

There should be no stress with a score like that, the peace pipe needs to be passed around this thread. 😴

 

[wends]

just go to the meeting and ask what the deal is, they prolly want to see if you're interested in them and what other schools you're applying to and whether you'll go there. if you do, thats one school looking for you instead of you begging them....thats a good thing

 

[SFAJess]

Make sure to let us know how it goes! I'm just as curious! 🙂


Good luck!