Lake Erie (LECOM) Discussion Thread 2015 - 2016

[Snoozer33]

I thought they said early decision in October otherwise earliest would be like Nov 15?

That is correct info from my interview as well. With a 30 day deposit either way.

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[imagine1392]

was there an option for early decision on the secondary? What were the requirements?

 

[MarshMedic]

was there an option for early decision on the secondary? What were the requirements?

No you chose it on interview day. Basically just when you get the decision, no binding contract (as I take it).

 

[Endorphins98]

If anyone is going to be around the Seton Hill campus, I interview on the 1st and would love to meet up. Good luck to all!

 

[Whats up Doc!]

Ok, so I get that you have 30 days after the interview until you receive an acceptance/denial. My question is, how much time after your acceptance do you have until they need an answer from you? The conflict I see here is a school needing to hear back before you have time to interview at other schools.

You have 30 days following their decision to accept or not also there is a differment option. If you differ it basically says dont give me your decision until I have had time to hear back from other schools. I interview on 9/11 and I was considering differing but I probably wont because I would much rather know asap whether or not they accepted me instead of waiting a few months just to find out ive been rejected.

 

[sandstorm223]

You have 30 days following their decision to accept or not also there is a differment option. If you differ it basically says dont give me your decision until I have had time to hear back from other schools. I interview on 9/11 and I was considering differing but I probably wont because I would much rather know asap whether or not they accepted me instead of waiting a few months just to find out ive been rejected.

Wow, thanks! This new info is a game changer for me!

 

[ERWINSHRODINGER]

Anyone knows for how long the interview invite is valid? I am waiting for the later interview dates but I am afraid they will withdraw the invite if I hold it for too long.

 

[Shammyguy3]

secondary today, verified on monday

 

[Shammyguy3]

how are other applicants comparing Seton Hill vs Erie for their secondaries? What tipped the scales over all for you guys?

 

[njtrimed]

Has anyone been rejected pre-interview yet? Just curious, because it seems like a lot of people have been "under review" since as early as July, whereas most IIs seem to go out within two weeks.

 

[sandstorm223]

how are other applicants comparing Seton Hill vs Erie for their secondaries? What tipped the scales over all for you guys?

Seton Hill! Pittsburgh is one of the nicest cities on the east coast, and there is NOTHING going on in Erie. Seton Hill all the way for me. I also like the smaller class sizes and the beautiful campus at LECOM-SH.

 

[Mrs.dr.B]

I noticed several people have been getting text updates regarding their application, such as under review. I submitted July 7th and have not recieved any texts. Should i be concerned? My status online says under review

 

[stickshifthonda]

Seton Hill! Pittsburgh is one of the nicest cities on the east coast, and there is NOTHING going on in Erie. Seton Hill all the way for me. I also like the smaller class sizes and the beautiful campus at LECOM-SH.

Let me be verrrrryyyyy clear. Seton Hill isn't in Pittsburgh- it's in Greensburg, a little nothing town 45 minutes outside of the city of Pittsburgh. Yeah the campus is nice, but it's an undergrad campus with a building for LECOM. Erie actually has things to do. We went out last night, got an Uber, met other young people out, etc.- can't say you can do that in Greensburg.

 

[Shammyguy3]

being close to a big city like Pittsburgh is nice for my significant other to find a job in her field a lot easier

 

[131989]

.

 

[Whats up Doc!]

I like Erie mostly because im from Cleveland and its only an hour away, but honestly it seems like there will be plenty to do in the off time and I like how its not a busy city nor in the middle of a cornfield. I plan on arriving the Thursday before my interview to check out the whole city, especially the casino Besides you couldnt pay me to move that close to Pittsburgh, GO BROWNS!!!!!!

 

[SuperSlim]

I sent in secondary on 8/14 got a confirmation of payment email... however when I check status it says

"If you have not submitted your supplemental application, click the link on the left to do so. If you have, this message will update once we have processed it. Do not submit another application."

should I call or what ?

 

[kkoala22]

Anyone interviewing on Oct 6th and would like to meet up before hand or anything PM me. Coming from New Jersey

 

[Promethean]

I know people usually post about these things so I thought ok why not ^.^

II yesterday =D I set the date for Sept 15th it was the earliest they had. After that Oct 2
Just for people wondering my secondary was submitted 8/5 and i got a text 8/6 saying it was under review and the invite on the 26th

Any advice from people that are students there or people that have already interviewed?
Have they said how long they will take to get back to you on a decision?
Super excited =D

I interviewed here last Sept. I opted for early acceptance and submitted my deposit by mid October.

The best advice I can give you is to relax. Really and truly, the interview day at LECOM is so low stress. No one is out to get you. They just want a chance to meet you and see how you interact with other people. I have a few secrets for success:

Dress very professionally. A suit is mandatory for men. Women should wear something nice and conservative. It doesn't have to be super fancy or expensive, but you must look as if you respect the opportunity you have been given to interview here. I felt really bad for the one guy who thought he could get away with not wearing a suit. Of all the times in your life to cut corners and be slack, medical school interviews are just not one of them.

Be kind, polite, and friendly to everyone you meet on interview day, even if they aren't someone who might be in a position to make a decision about you. The school is looking for people with good interpersonal skills. If a future classmate is speaking, listen, really listen to them and be able to respond thoughtfully. Don't worry about having canned answers that you have practiced until perfect. They want to see if you can engage in conversation, not just disgorge things that you've already memorized. The only people who I saw really screw up were the ones who were panicked and could only recite their prepared responses. When they were asked questions that they hadn't prepared for, they bombed. That isn't a signal to prepare for every possible question. Rather, relax and be ready to talk pleasantly on any topic that might be raised.

The more calm, confident, and comfortable you can be, the better you will look and sound. The more courteous you are to everyone, the more you smile and generally show that you are a pleasant person to be around, the more they will want you to come here.

They tell you up front everything that might turn you off the school. They aren't interested in bringing anyone in under false pretenses and then having them be miserable. They tell you that the weather in Erie is cold and VERY snowy several months of the year. They warn you that you can't eat or drink in classrooms, and that professional dress is required, and that lecture attendance is mandatory.

However, there are some big positives that balance those things out (e.g. that you can pick a pathway that minimizes the number of lectures you need to attend, like Directed Study or PBL, and for those committed to primary care, there is 3 year option that saves you an entire year of time and tuition.) You need to decide if those positives outweigh the negatives for you. If not, please don't come here anyway and make everyone else miserable along with you. Go someplace that suits you better.

The interview day, like your medical school experience, will depend a lot on what you bring to it, on your attitude and approach. You got to this point. That gives you a very good shot at getting a seat if you want it, if it is the right place for you. Come up a day early if you can and check out Erie. Drive around a little, go see Presque Isle, etc. I fell in love, but you need to see what you think about it here.

To everyone interviewing here: Good luck, hit me up if you have specific questions that you don't want to ask in thread, and understand that I'm a first year med student getting his butt kicked by anatomy, so I might not get back to you right away.

 

[Promethean]

I sent in secondary on 8/14 got a confirmation of payment email... however when I check status it says

"If you have not submitted your supplemental application, click the link on the left to do so. If you have, this message will update once we have processed it. Do not submit another application."

should I call or what ?

Nah. Not right away. Give them a few days at least. They have an awful lot of applications to go through and many things happen by hand. The admissions staff are all really great people, and they won't mind helping you if you do need to call them, but try not to bug them unless it doesn't change in the next week or so. The DO cycle is very long, and we are still at the start of it, so don't stress too much. (Trust me, I remember what it felt like to have to wait, though!)

 

[FranticDoc]

Nah. Not right away. Give them a few days at least. They have an awful lot of applications to go through and many things happen by hand. The admissions staff are all really great people, and they won't mind helping you if you do need to call them, but try not to bug them unless it doesn't change in the next week or so. The DO cycle is very long, and we are still at the start of it, so don't stress too much. (Trust me, I remember what it felt like to have to wait, though!)

Can someone clarify this for me? I mean I keep seeing people post this, but when I see that DO schools already started interviewing and many say they will stop interviews around March or April, it seems to me that the length of the cycle is identical to MD schools, no? Am I missing something?

 

[Promethean]

Can someone clarify this for me? I mean I keep seeing people post this, but when I see that DO schools already started interviewing and many say they will stop interviews around March or April, it seems to me that the length of the cycle is identical to MD schools, no? Am I missing something?

With MD schools, a lot of them have admitted virtually everyone they are gonna by mid November. There may be a few stragglers here and there, but for the most part, they fill their classes early. The more prestigious the school, the more flooded they are with applicants, the more true this is. And there is a feedback loop effect at work, where everyone knows that this is true, so everyone rushes to get their applications in the first hours of the first day that the cycle is open. The bottleneck of everyone rushing the gates at the same time means that if you submit on day 2, there will be a week or two delay. If you submit on week 2, your app might not be verified for a month. Meanwhile, everyone who got in ahead of you will be first in line for interviews, first considered, first accepted.

DO schools don't quite operate on the same crushed timeline. Everything seems a little more relaxed about their admissions process. The neuroticism level is toned down just a little bit, I think. Again, "everyone knows" that the cycle isn't such a stampede, so they don't all try to crowd in up front as much.

Also, there are people who apply MD first, to see what happens. If they don't get the early acceptances they hope for, then they apply DO. Some of these are great candidates and the schools are happy to offer them interviews long after MD schools have pretty well firmed up their classes. And there will be spots for them, as people who applied both MD and DO let go of their DO "safety" acceptances in preference to the MD school that offered them a spot. So, that also works to extend the length of the DO application cycle, as the high stakes game of musical chairs winds itself out.

 

[ortnakas]

Let me be verrrrryyyyy clear. Seton Hill isn't in Pittsburgh- it's in Greensburg, a little nothing town 45 minutes outside of the city of Pittsburgh. Yeah the campus is nice, but it's an undergrad campus with a building for LECOM. Erie actually has things to do. We went out last night, got an Uber, met other young people out, etc.- can't say you can do that in Greensburg.

Greensburg definitely isn't Pittsburgh, you're right there! Although it is nice to have pretty easy access to it, especially for people with significant others who need access to a bigger city/major airport for their job.

Erie is significantly bigger than Greensburg, and I'm jealous you have Uber up there, but for what it's worth, Greensburg isn't totally lacking in things to do. We have an awesome beer/tapas place, a bar with karaoke, and several surprisingly good restaurants/pubs/etc. It's not a thriving metropolis by any means, but I'll stick up for it as a decent place to live for a couple years.

 

[deleted158872]

I've heard that LECOM already knows whom they will accept before interviews. Is that true? If so, would a great/bad interview change their decisions?

 

[Endorphins98]

Just landed in Pittsburgh for an interview at seton hill tomorrow! Good luck everyone!

 

[Whats up Doc!]

Thanks and Good luck Endorphins!!!

 

[mathnerd88]

I've heard that LECOM already knows whom they will accept before interviews. Is that true? If so, would a great/bad interview change their decisions?

That's pretty much true at every school. As long as you do well in your interviews, you will get into the school.

 

[Endorphins98]

If anyone is in the area and wants to get a bite, message me!

 

[flyawaybird89]

Just landed in Pittsburgh for an interview at seton hill tomorrow! Good luck everyone!

Best of luck tomorrow... be yourself, stay calm... you're going to do great

 

[mathnerd88]

With MD schools, a lot of them have admitted virtually everyone they are gonna by mid November. There may be a few stragglers here and there, but for the most part, they fill their classes early. The more prestigious the school, the more flooded they are with applicants, the more true this is. And there is a feedback loop effect at work, where everyone knows that this is true, so everyone rushes to get their applications in the first hours of the first day that the cycle is open. The bottleneck of everyone rushing the gates at the same time means that if you submit on day 2, there will be a week or two delay. If you submit on week 2, your app might not be verified for a month. Meanwhile, everyone who got in ahead of you will be first in line for interviews, first considered, first accepted.

DO schools don't quite operate on the same crushed timeline. Everything seems a little more relaxed about their admissions process. The neuroticism level is toned down just a little bit, I think. Again, "everyone knows" that the cycle isn't such a stampede, so they don't all try to crowd in up front as much.

Also, there are people who apply MD first, to see what happens. If they don't get the early acceptances they hope for, then they apply DO. Some of these are great candidates and the schools are happy to offer them interviews long after MD schools have pretty well firmed up their classes. And there will be spots for them, as people who applied both MD and DO let go of their DO "safety" acceptances in preference to the MD school that offered them a spot. So, that also works to extend the length of the DO application cycle, as the high stakes game of musical chairs winds itself out.

Not necessarily true. If you interview after December, you're most likely going after the waitlist spots. Although MD has a stringent timeline, DO applications only trail by one or two months at best.

 

[jpmiz]

That's pretty much true at every school. As long as you do well in your interviews, you will get into the school.

If this is true, does this mean that if you get offered the interview, then you won't have issues stats wise? I'm just worried because I only have a 25 mcat and it seems like the average is much higher. I'm hoping it doesn't keep me out, even with a good interview.

 

[MarshMedic]

If this is true, does this mean that if you get offered the interview, then you won't have issues stats wise? I'm just worried because I only have a 25 mcat and it seems like the average is much higher. I'm hoping it doesn't keep me out, even with a good interview.

No sense worrying about that now. Just go rock that interview!

 

[deleted158872]

Not necessarily true. If you interview after December, you're most likely going after the waitlist spots. Although MD has a stringent timeline, DO applications only trail by one or two months at best.

Not true. My friend interviewwd in Jan last year and got in.

 

[mathnerd88]

If this is true, does this mean that if you get offered the interview, then you won't have issues stats wise? I'm just worried because I only have a 25 mcat and it seems like the average is much higher. I'm hoping it doesn't keep me out, even with a good interview.

Most likely not. However, keep in mind that what I'm saying is in the most general sense. If they're going to be nitpicky, then it would be that MCAT score. If you wow them at the interview, then you should get accepted. The problem is that at LECOM, the interviews are group, so it is very difficult to express yourself and your interviewers don't really know you as a person. I've been to both LECOM interviews already this cycle and I came out not feeling that the interview went super well. My Bradenton one seemed to go better than the Erie one because I was able to give better answers and lead the group during those group based scenarios.

 

[mathnerd88]

Not true. My friend interviewwd in Jan last year and got in.

Interviews after December/January means you're most likely interviewing for waitlist spots. There won't be as many spots available for adcoms anymore so they start taking in those with better stats.

You're trying to maximize your chances here. Obviously it is much better to have an earlier interview than a later interview. My guess would be that those later spots are for those with MD stats who couldn't get into MD schools. I haven't gotten many II's compared to how many schools I've applied to and I have much higher than average DO stats. ~3.7 GPA, 30+ MCAT with amazing EC's, publications, DO letter, health committee letter, the works.

 

[QueenJames]

Cancelled my ii here! Hope it goes to one of you!

 

[njtrimed]

Interviews after December/January means you're most likely interviewing for waitlist spots. There won't be as many spots available for adcoms anymore so they start taking in those with better stats.

You're trying to maximize your chances here. Obviously it is much better to have an earlier interview than a later interview. My guess would be that those later spots are for those with MD stats who couldn't get into MD schools. I haven't gotten many II's compared to how many schools I've applied to and I have much higher than average DO stats. ~3.7 GPA, 30+ MCAT with amazing EC's, publications, DO letter, health committee letter, the works.

Hey Mathner- Did you get an II from LECOM yet?

 

[mathnerd88]

Hey Mathner- Did you get an II from LECOM yet?

Yeah I already finished my interviews from both LECOMs. I was in the first interview group for both schools.

 

[TUVIX]

If this is true, does this mean that if you get offered the interview, then you won't have issues stats wise? I'm just worried because I only have a 25 mcat and it seems like the average is much higher. I'm hoping it doesn't keep me out, even with a good interview.

If they invited you for an interview then they think you are academically prepared. Whatever you do don't go into the interview being insecure about your MCAT or GPA. They are not going to ask you about this at LECOM because it's closed file anyway. So don't try to mold your answers to their questions around explaining a bad MCAT score. Just be yourself. They just want to see how you communicate and behave. Best to just be yourself and relax.

 

[MarshMedic]

I was in the first at seton hill, but haven't heard diddly from LECOM-B. I guess it's not that bad....I really don't like the heat, but I sure would like a few more II's.

 

[deleted158872]

Cancelled my ii here! Hope it goes to one of you!

hi, where else will you definitely attend?

 

[Whats up Doc!]

I have to wonder though if they know who their going to accept prior to the interviews then why do you basically have a 50/50 chance of acceptance if your offered an interview. Does that mean everyone offered the interview is academically acceptable but then half of them just have a bad interview? Or do they just just invite a bunch of students knowing they only plan to accept half?

 

[Endorphins98]

Best of luck tomorrow... be yourself, stay calm... you're going to do great

Thank you so much! This place is gorgeous. I hope all goes well!

 

[TUVIX]

I have to wonder though if they know who their going to accept prior to the interviews then why do you basically have a 50/50 chance of acceptance if your offered an interview. Does that mean everyone offered the interview is academically acceptable but then half of them just have a bad interview? Or do they just just invite a bunch of students knowing they only plan to accept half?

First of all there is no way that they already know who they are going to accept before the interview. That's just a ridiculous concept and I'm not sure where anyone got that from. They may have a very good idea of which students they would like to accept based on their application and stats. That being said, they have no idea who you actually are until they meet you and see if you can even hold a conversation with them. I firmly believe that every single person that interviews has a chance of being accepted. It's not as simple as your making it. The interview is a big piece of the puzzle and their only opportunity to get to know you. The reason it is 50:50 is because everyone is qualified academically and then they take the information they get at interview time and weigh all factors to decide who is getting an acceptance. When I interviewed at LECOM there were 6 students in my interview group. I honestly think only two people interviewed well. That's obviously just my opinion though, and I also don't know their stats. There was one student who I am 100% positive that it wouldn't matter how high his stats were, he is not getting in simply because of how he interviewed.

 

[Whats up Doc!]

Yeah I agree I would be pretty mad to find out they knew who they wanted to accept and just offered a ton of interviews anyways. And dam this is my first time interviewing so its hard for me to imagine someone so bad they dont stand a chance of acceptance (that blows, I think im pretty human). Its just hard to gauge because it looks like most of the students that are currently there just say to be yourself. Guess theirs only one way to find out!!!

 

[TUVIX]

Yeah I agree I would be pretty mad to find out they knew who they wanted to accept and just offered a ton of interviews anyways. And dam this is my first time interviewing so its hard for me to imagine someone so bad they dont stand a chance of acceptance (that blows, I think im pretty human). Its just hard to gauge because it looks like most of the students that are currently there just say to be yourself. Guess theirs only one way to find out!!!

It wouldn't make sense to just invite people you already plan to reject. The interview day costs them time and money. They have to pay the interviewers, pay the admissions staff, pay for lunch, pay to review applications etc.. etc... If you are invited for an interview then assume that if you interview well you have a great chance of an acceptance. Good interviews lead to waitlist or acceptance. If you think about it logically the only way a good interview leads to a waitlist is if your stats are low and they have too many "good interviewees" with higher numbers. Best to just not worry about any of this stuff and just relax and do well in the interview.

 

[vanbennj]

What I've been told after interviewing here is that you will find out if you are waitlisted or rejected earlier than if you were accepted.

 

[vanbennj]

For my fellow people who have been interviewed (mine being on 8/14) did you send thank you notes or e-mails to your interviewers afterwards? The thought never really crossed my mind since it was a group interview and all we were given were our interviewers names, but some people say you should and other say it doesn't matter? Also if I did, I'm afraid too much time has passed in between.

 

[MarshMedic]

For my fellow people who have been interviewed (mine being on 8/14) did you send thank you notes or e-mails to your interviewers afterwards? The thought never really crossed my mind since it was a group interview and all we were given were our interviewers names, but some people say you should and other say it doesn't matter? Also if I did, I'm afraid too much time has passed in between.

Meh dont worry. I didn't. It would have been nice, but whole-heartedly not necessary imo.

 

[QueenJames]

hi, where else will you definitely attend?

Hi Maruko!

I have saved my seat at BCOM, and if none of my other interviews pan out the way I like, then I will happily attend BCOM. I am waiting to hear back from a couple other schools before I make my final decision. But for now, I actually don't see myself attending LECOM and I hope it goes to somebody who really needs it. I know this process is a rollercoaster of emotions so I'm just doing my part to give somebody else a chance. Good luck to whomever gets my interview and you deserve it!