Accepted: Your Guide to CU School of Medicine

Admissions Straight Talk

In this episode of Admissions Straight Talk, host Linda Abraham interviews Dr. Jeffrey SooHoo, Assistant Dean for Admissions at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. They discuss the unique aspects of the Colorado medical curriculum, including the new Trek curriculum, the importance of longitudinal integrated clerkships, and the various tracks available for students. Dr. SooHoo also shares insights into the secondary application process, the role of the CASPER test, and the criteria for interview invitations. The conversation highlights common mistakes applicants make, the importance of research experience, and the support systems in place for medical students. Dr. SooHoo emphasizes the competitive nature of medical school admissions and the holistic review process used to evaluate applicants.

Takeaways:

• The Colorado School of Medicine has a unique Trek curriculum launched in 2021.
• Longitudinal integrated clerkships allow for deeper relationships with preceptors and patients.
• Students can choose from various tracks, including rural medicine and global health.
• The secondary application focuses on value alignment with the school's pillars: leadership, curiosity, and commitment.
• CASPER is used to assess non-cognitive competencies in applicants.
• The admissions process is highly competitive, with many qualified applicants not receiving offers.
• Interviews are conducted virtually and include both group and individual assessments.
• Research experience is beneficial but not mandatory for applicants.
• Common mistakes include not understanding the competitiveness of admissions and failing to tell a cohesive story in applications.
• Support systems like Compass Guides help students navigate their medical education.

Relevant Links:

• University of Colorado School of Medicine
• Accepted's Med School Calculator Quiz

Related Shows:

• Washington University School of Medicine
• Deep Dive Into Duke Medical: An Interview with Associate Dean Linton Yee
• Duke’s Physician Assistant Program
• Getting Into Med School Isn’t Easy…But This Applicant Did It!

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Chapter

1. Welcome Dr. Jeffrey SooHoo to Admissions Straight Talk (00:00:00)

2. Can you give us an overview of the Colorado School of Medicine's curriculum? (00:01:44)

3. So I noticed there's rural medicine, global medicine, and a research option which you alluded to. Can you dive into those, perhaps other tracks that I didn't notice? (00:07:45)

4. What is the secondary like for the University of Colorado Medical School? (00:09:39)

5. Colorado School of Medicine requires the CASPER. What do you hope to learn from it that you don't learn from the MCAT, the application, or the other materials? (00:11:24)

6. Are you planning any changes to your requirements for the class that will be applying in 2025 and entering in 2026? (00:14:47)

7. Does the University of Colorado have a preference for in-state residents? (00:18:20)

8. What makes an application worthy of an interview invitation or an offer of acceptance? (00:19:31)

9. Can you share what the interview day is like? (00:24:40)

10. So the individual interview, are they interviewing with one person or with several people? And is it more of a traditional medical school interview? (00:26:15)

11. Can we go back to the group interview for a second? Can you give just a little bit a sense of what that is? (00:28:40)

12. Do you want students you admit to have both research experience and clinical exposure, or is clinical exposure really the only thing that's important? (00:29:47)

13. How do you evaluate multiple MCAT scores? (00:30:48)

14. How does the University of Colorado view letters of intent or correspondence from applicants after they've submitted their secondary either before the interview, after the interview, or if waitlisted? (00:31:06)

15. What's the most common mistake that you see applicants make, either in the primary or the secondary application, or the interview? (00:33:08)

16. How do you feel about applicants using AI or Check GPT in preparing an application? (00:35:45)

17. What are the three most important things that you think applicants should be doing to prepare themselves to apply to medical school in two years? (00:36:45)

18. You mentioned the Compass Guides at Colorado. Can you go into that a little bit? (00:39:01)

19. What would you like me to ask you? (00:41:02)

20. Where can listeners learn more about the University of Colorado School of Medicine? (00:43:08)