Wisconsin Rejection

[Sicamic]

Hey All,

I just got a rejection letter from Wisconsin without even filling out a secondary. I'm a non-resident, so while I realize that things are supposed to be more competitive for me, I also checked last year's class stats and saw that they accepted about 1/3 of their applicants. As much as I enjoy saving the $75 application fee, I am way above their means in most categories, and I just wonder if anyone knows if they have any "not from a contiguous state" or "not likely to come here" type rejections. I certainly don't expect to get interviews or accepted on the basis of stats alone, but I am surprised that they don't even want to know more about me via a secondary. Here are my stats - I think I'm competitive, any rationale someone could give me would be much appreciated.

Misc.: White suburban male (d'oh)
University: Rice
Major: Anthroplogy / Religious Studies
Undergrad GPA: 3.91
Pre-Med / Science GPA: 4.10
MCAT: 40T (13-15,13,14)
Extracurriculars: Plenty (Sports, college government, community involvement)
Med Experience: Volunteering / Working Full Time for the last year in a Neurology Clinic (I am a post-bac applicant, so only decided to pursue this about a year and a half ago).

Thanks for your help, and good luck with the process everyone.

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[Kovox]

Uni of Wisconsin or Medical College of Wisconsin?

 

[marq_bme]

this is more baffling than anything i have ever seen...

..except possibly quantum mechanics.

 

[MGoBlue13]

It seems like with your stats, that they think that you'll accept an offer from a "better" school. So they might not want to "waste" an acceptance on someone who won't take it.

Don't worry though, you'll get into a hell of a school.

 

[Sicamic]

U Wisconsin at Madison.

 

[MedApp2003]

Is there any particular reason you want to go to wisconsin?

If there isn't, then I just wouldn't worry about it. With stats like yours (your definitely being modest if you think they are any where near any school's average), it would be very surprising if you didn't get in to many many schools, including a number of top tens. So if Wisconsin was just another school, I wouldn't waste my energy thinking about it too hard.

But, if you really really want to go to Wisconsin for some reason, I would call them up and ask them. They can probalby tell you why. My guess is either your state of residency disqualified you completely or they thought you wouldn't come (which is frankly what I would think if i was on an adcom in Wisconsin). Anyway, I am sure they can tell you better.

Good luck.

 

[Woots32]

The only thing I can think of is if your LORs aren't as incredibly glowing as they would expect for someone w/ you awesome stats, or if your personal statement is weak. If you've heard positive things from other schools - for example, if you already have some invites to competitive schools - then I'd chalk it up to the apparent total randomness of this godforsaken application process. I dunno - this one beats the hell out of me. 🙁

Anyway, I have another related U Wisc question - for those of you who filled out the secondary, have any of you been invited to, or scheduled interviews yet? (I'm out of state, BTW.) Anyone know what's up? 😕

 

[johnlin]

This one is tough...

I think that UW-Madison only offers 15-18 spots to non-Residents

each year. The only thing I could think of is that you are a non-

Science major. Today, if you were a Wisconsin resident, it should

be no probelm for you to even have an interview.

Well, I agree with MedApp 2003, call them up!

Also, where you finished your pre med requirements, which could

be another factor for non-Science major...

 

[Mutterkuchen]

I would call them up, but realize that this is probably futile. Although some state schools reserve spots for out-of-staters, most of these spots require some special connection with the state. If you were a former resident or went to Wisconsin for undergrad, you would probably be given more weight. But some random person, even with superb stats, has no chance. State medical schools have the mission of ensuring health care access to its state's residents. Even if they thought you might go, do you have any intention of staying in Wisconsin after graduation. It's cold up there.

I am always perplexed on the number of out-of-state applicants to SIU school of medicine, since they accept virtually NO out-of-staters. I don't want to give AMCAS more money than I have to.

 

[Woots32]

Originally posted by johnlin
This one is tough...

I think that UW-Madison only offers 15-18 spots to non-Residents

each year.

When I requested a catalog from UW-M, they sent me the stats for the 2001 applicants. According to that, the out of state stats were:

AMCAS - 1437
Completed applications (secondaries) - 209
Accepted Applicants - 59
Enrolled - 21

The packet actually had a TON of information, including stats from every undergrad school that had an applicant. So I guess if anyone has any questions, I can try to look it up! 🙂

 

[Sicamic]

Took my Post-bac courses at Tufts & Harvard, so that shouldn't be a big deal.

A couple of my LOR writers sent me copies, and I think they're good. Then again, i don't read 500 LORs on a daily basis, so what do I know.

And how dare you insult my personal statement! just kidding. I did receive an invite to interview from Southwestern in Dallas, which is a good school, so I don't think my application can be too stupid 🙂.

Thanks for the thoughts- I think I'll chalk it up to the out of state issue though I still don't think that warrants the no secondary. Oh, well.

I dropped their admissions office an e-mail to find out what's up - thanks for everyone's help.

 

[*fatmike*]

I went to UW-madison for undergrad. This past summer I talked with the asst. dean of admissons about my med school application and what my weaker and stronger areas were. I explicitly told him that I was not applying to UW for med school (to make sure he knew i was not trying to make a name for myself with him). After our meeting, he said, "so i have one question for you...why aren't you applying here?" i said because i was out of state and didnt think my chances were all that great. He went on to say that he would see no reason why i wouldnt at least be invited for an interview and thought i was a perfectly acceptable candidate for UW despite the fact that i was an IL resident. then he went on to assure me that they were going to accept up to 30 out of staters this year, la di da....

I got a pre-secondary rejection from them last week.

I have a meeting with the adcom next tues, not to try and get a secondary off of them, but just to see what happened....anyway, just thought i would share that.

 

[jalan2]

Sicamic,

Your MCAT is definitely better than mine, and your ECs are also better. I initially got a rejection from them presecondary. I felt somewhat "insulted" because I know I was qualified, I went to school there and graduated at the top of my class from one of their best departments. But I thought, that's OK because I hated the cold weather anyway, so I didn't do anything about it. I'm out of state. Then a few weeks later, they gave me a secondary invitation, apologized that they had inadvertently placed my application in the wrong pile, and say that they hoped that I would still continue my application at their school.

I have a suspicion that you may have been inadvertently placed in the wrong pile as well. So it's good that you've emailed them to see what's up.

Good luck!
-j2

 

[imperator]

Originally posted by jalan2
I went to school there and graduated at the top of my class from one of their best departments.

MM&I? Bact?

 

[Smurfette]

There are VERY few out-of-staters that get in; in my class most of the out-of-staters are URMs or MD/PhDs. I also know an out-of-stater in my class who got a rejection letter initially, and was then "un-rejected" and invited for an interview a month or so later. You have good stats, so it's definitely worth inquiring about---it can't hurt.

Let us know what the admissions people tell you.

 

[Street Philosopher]

4.1 GPA?

 

[cabruen]

By the way, Southwestern is very much a numbers oriented school, which is what earned you an invitation to interview there.

Good luck!

 

[siempre595]

I just got their secondary, and I'm out of state. I definitely think if you're seriously interested in going there you should look into it, I'm not as qualified, not nearly. Good luck.

 

[latinfridley]

Yeah how'd u get a 4.1? is that a typo? Or is ur GPA on a different scale than the usual 0-4.0 ?

the j-rod

 

[Martha]

Also, Smurfette, I was wondering about the person in your class who was invited to interview after the initial rejection-do you know if they contacted the school to question the rejection, or if the school simply 'changed their mind'?
Just wondering how much the follow-up actually helps after a rejection, ie. if anyone much ever comes of it or if we are better off just moving on....
Thanks

 

[Sicamic]

Got a reply e-mail from Wisconsin - apparently I was inadvertently placed in the "didn't meet MCAT requirements" pile because when they looked at my app, they didn't have my MCAT scores yet (I took them in August). So they said they rejected me "on accident" and sincerely hope that I don't think that is representative of how they conduct business there. They told me they reactivated my application, so all is good.

Our GPA is on a 0-4.33 scale, btw.

 

[Adcadet]

Originally posted by Sicamic
Hey All,

I
Pre-Med / Science GPA: 4.10

How do you have a GPA>4.0?

Anyway...that's really strange. I'd call them and ask. If you don't mind a little lie, you could mention that you called them like last year and asked if you were competitive and they said "yes."

 

[Adcadet]

oops. Ignore my previous post.