Hi guys,
I'll try to answer some questions here as my good friend currently goes here. As you all know, the program has increased in size and the class graduating in may 2015 has increased (and still increasing) to around 75 people from 30-40 people i think. This is all coming from memory but I believe their stats were 25 mcat and 3.25 GPA got you a guaranteed interview contingent upon graduating from the program with those stats (you find out of your interview in feb and interview early march). To my understanding, my friend said if you have these stats and you don't interview like a total crazy person, you're basically in. They really like their COB students and seems like they truly care about your success in the program and have a lot of resources to help you succeed to ultimately matriculate into the COM. a
I cannot compare last year to this year though. They increased to 100 people and increased their stats for the guaranteed interview, which means more people to weed out. If it makes any of us feel better, i asked about a class average for their immunology and she said it was an 89- which means most people are doing well. The profs are the same profs that teach the COM so you will do well in first year. She did also tell me they are changing the curriculum to match even more the curriculum of the COM students, same style of tests/schedule of tests/courses, and it's getting difficult and i know there is curve for some tests bc of the difficulty.
again, this is all coming from memory so some of my info may not be the most accurate but this is the gist of it.
@metoo, my essay was short and sweet. not embellished and to the point. i believe it was under a page long. I basically said that their SMP would help build my academic confidence. I had a paragraph explaining my falls in undergrad (too much on my plate) and future determination, focus, and desire for success supported from my experiences as working pharmacy technician in undergrad and research assistant in cancer research after graduation. I honestly think my essay/work experience and LORs were the determining point of my acceptance as my stats are well below average and MCAT is horrendous. I am choosing this program because of their MCAT prep component and although I know this year is going to be the most exhausting year of my life (doing grad school + mcat prep), knowing that they accepted me with such below average stats mean they truly believe in me to give me a seat to become a doctor. It makes me believe in myself. I;m definitely going to study for the mcat now until school starts so i won't be totally overwhelmed. also my friend said to review as much biochem as you can because if you're out of school for a year or more, you will have a hard time adjusting to the mass info. i'll probably be reading some pubmed articles every week and find some online resources for biochem refreshers.
let me know if you have any questions or feel free to PM me. good luck! try to get your app in ASAP. min was finished beginning January.