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MSU-COM Discussion Thread 2010-2011

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Whites83

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I didn't see a new thread up for MSUCOM '10-'11, so I thought I'd start one.

I'm a reapplicant this year - was a bit premature in applying last year. However, I did take the opportunity to meet with one of MSUCOM's addmissions advisors, and she was wonderful. Anyone who has the time should try to talk to them, especially if they are a reapplicant.
 
Secondary Prompt: Describe a personal experience or ethical challenge you have faced that has influenced the development of your character. How has this experience helped you to develop specific skills and/or abilities that are essential to practicing osteopathic medicine?

Your response should total no more than one page and the font size must not be smaller than 10 pt.

Does anyone know if it is single spaced or double spaced?
 
ThrusH said:
Secondary Prompt: Describe a personal experience or ethical challenge you have faced that has influenced the development of your character. How has this experience helped you to develop specific skills and/or abilities that are essential to practicing osteopathic medicine?

Your response should total no more than one page and the font size must not be smaller than 10 pt.

Does anyone know if it is single spaced or double spaced?
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Last year mine was single spaced and size 11 font. It must of been fine since I was accepted during the first week of handing out acceptances. Let me know if anyone needs any help!!!!
 
apple3 said:
We can all now sit back and breathe a sigh of relief when we apply to MSUCOM...Tom Izzo is staying here and not coaching the Cavs. WHEW 👍👍👍

Sorry to be off topic - but I'm a current MSU grad student and this was a big deal last night around here. Best of luck to all of you in this cycle.
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I heard the good news.. congrats cuz the izzone can't be the izzone without izzo
 
ThrusH said:
Secondary Prompt: Describe a personal experience or ethical challenge you have faced that has influenced the development of your character. How has this experience helped you to develop specific skills and/or abilities that are essential to practicing osteopathic medicine?

Your response should total no more than one page and the font size must not be smaller than 10 pt.

Does anyone know if it is single spaced or double spaced?
Click to expand...


I remember that this was the secondary prompt last year - but do we know for sure this will be the prompt again this year?

Edit: It seems they are using the same secondary prompt again this year (perhaps every year?), as verified on another thread.
 
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I just got the secondary today, It may just be me but their process seems a little backwards in regards to the "evaluation forms" or LORs. I've had my 5 letters that make up my letter packet from my evaluators for awhile; they made it pretty clear that they do not accept letter packets in the secondary. However, now that they already have my primary they are now just telling me to pick two evaluators to fill out these forms after they've already spent a good amount of time writing the letters and return them to MSU before my deadline for the secondary comes in exactly 1 month? From the looks of the secondary it seems they don't preffer you have your evaluators just send a letter with an essentially blank evaluation form that is required. Seems like a pretty tedious process for something that doesn't need to be so difficult, do a lot of DO schools use this "evaluation" method?
 
Gibtone said:
I just got the secondary today, It may just be me but their process seems a little backwards in regards to the "evaluation forms" or LORs. I've had my 5 letters that make up my letter packet from my evaluators for awhile; they made it pretty clear that they do not accept letter packets in the secondary. However, now that they already have my primary they are now just telling me to pick two evaluators to fill out these forms after they've already spent a good amount of time writing the letters and return them to MSU before my deadline for the secondary comes in exactly 1 month? From the looks of the secondary it seems they don't preffer you have your evaluators just send a letter with an essentially blank evaluation form that is required. Seems like a pretty tedious process for something that doesn't need to be so difficult, do a lot of DO schools use this "evaluation" method?
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yea, this is really weird, i think most schools, have evaluation forms you CAN use but don't have to, Is there any way around MSU's evaluation requirement, I don't have the courage to ask my writers who are all grown and busy with families, jobs, and other letters to write to spend even more time filling out ANOTHER evaluation.
 
yea I'm not sure if there's a way around it but some of my letter writers are physicians on the opposite side of the country which makes it quite difficult to communicate with them given the deadline of only a month, some of my letters were submitted to my advisor for my packet over a year ago so I would assume the writers don't have a quick copy on hand since MSU wants the letters directly from the writers with a signature on the form. Jeese....
 
gatewasani said:
yea, this is really weird, i think most schools, have evaluation forms you CAN use but don't have to, Is there any way around MSU's evaluation requirement, I don't have the courage to ask my writers who are all grown and busy with families, jobs, and other letters to write to spend even more time filling out ANOTHER evaluation.
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This is why doing your research is so important. Since I had a phone appt. with someone at MSU COM they informed me about their evaluation form. So I let my writers know well in advance how it was going to work. They were awesome about it since they knew well in advance. Don't worry about asking the people who are super busy.

Also as a side note you can ask ANY PROFESSIONAL who knows you well to write the letter. It doesn't have to be some professor or physician. So do you know anyone else that may be able to help you out. For example I used my manager from my job at the hospital who was not a doctor.
 
wishintobedoc said:
This is why doing your research is so important. Since I had a phone appt. with someone at MSU COM they informed me about their evaluation form. So I let my writers know well in advance how it was going to work. They were awesome about it since they knew well in advance. Don't worry about asking the people who are super busy.

Also as a side note you can ask ANY PROFESSIONAL who knows you well to write the letter. It doesn't have to be some professor or physician. So do you know anyone else that may be able to help you out. For example I used my manager from my job at the hospital who was not a doctor.
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really? i can't find any info on their site but can you explain a little more, the way I understand it is most schools want two science letters and a physician (i've already secured these) so can I get two different people, perhaps from past jobs i've had to fill out the msu evaluation? Would it be ok to get my former boss who knows me well and my academic goals but the job was not healthcare or medically related at all.
 
I will be starting at MSU COM this year.... in regards to the evaluation letters... it can be ANYONE besides family of course.... the most IMPORTANT requirement is that the person knows you well... it can be a boss, a pastor..... a DO physician eval is not weighted any higher than anyone else. I believe it said no personal friends, but family friends who have watched you develop are. Others ideas are coaches and people who observed your volunteer activities. You can not substitute a letter packet.... these evals have to be done to be done to be considered. This info should all be on the instructions they give you with the secondary I believe.
 
Hey everyone, I was wondering if anyone has the link for the evaluation forms, I'm pretty sure I will get a secondary but I'd like to give the evaluation forms to my writers early so they enough time to properly write it.

Also, for those who have applied before, do we send the evaluation forms to msucom or is it a must that the writers send them.
 
futurdoc12345 said:
Hey everyone, I was wondering if anyone has the link for the evaluation forms, I'm pretty sure I will get a secondary but I'd like to give the evaluation forms to my writers early so they enough time to properly write it.

Also, for those who have applied before, do we send the evaluation forms to msucom or is it a must that the writers send them.
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someone attached it in the 2009-2010 discussion
 
Any idea on the "strictness" of the biochem requirement?

I took a biology class entitled macromolecules and metabolism (it was 4 semester hours but did not include a lab). The text we used was Lehninger's Biochemistry.

I can't mark it as a Biochem course on AACOMAS because it is listed on my official transcript as a Biology course. Is there someplace on the secondary to indicate which courses you are using to fulfill the various requirements?
 
Discipula said:
Any idea on the "strictness" of the biochem requirement?

I took a biology class entitled macromolecules and metabolism (it was 4 semester hours but did not include a lab). The text we used was Lehninger's Biochemistry.

I can't mark it as a Biochem course on AACOMAS because it is listed on my official transcript as a Biology course. Is there someplace on the secondary to indicate which courses you are using to fulfill the various requirements?
Click to expand...

I think this definitely fits into the "search their website for the answer, and if you can't find it, call them to ask directly" category. It would seem like it might be accepted...but they might be strict and want an actual Biochem course - probably worth giving them a call.
 
i added msu-com to my aacomas the other day after an exhaustive discussion with my family


anyone know how oos friendly they are??
 
They will accept OOS student if you are competitive, but usually MSUCOM seems to have a MI bias because of the SKY HIGH OOS tuition. OOS students usually withdraw after realizing they may be paying double to COA of other schools to attend. People will always argue on here that OOS students get a scholarship to bring the COA back down to instate, I'm just not sure how accurate this is, it would be something that you would really want to look into. Its a great school though.
 
MSUSpartan642 said:
They will accept OOS student if you are competitive, but usually MSUCOM seems to have a MI bias because of the SKY HIGH OOS tuition. OOS students usually withdraw after realizing they may be paying double to COA of other schools to attend. People will always argue on here that OOS students get a scholarship to bring the COA back down to instate, I'm just not sure how accurate this is, it would be something that you would really want to look into. Its a great school though.
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thanks for the info 🙂

hopefully this will not be needed and we will be classmates but i am taking the chiacgo philosophy of apply early apply often :laugh:
 
There are OOS scholarships. Depending on how many OOS people there are, they can be extremely competitive. We (c/o 2014) started this past Thursday and it seems like there is quite a few people from OOS/International.

Good luck with the secondary and your admissions, it's well worth it.
 
I live in Iowa but own a house in Michigan and would consider MSU's DO school. I hear it's a good school wonder if anyone has visited or is attending.
 
Yay, my application was finally released on 6/25 (Friday) - hoping to get the MSUCOM secondary this week!
 
mommy2three said:
thanks for the info 🙂

hopefully this will not be needed and we will be classmates but i am taking the chiacgo philosophy of apply early apply often :laugh:
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Best of luck to you I hope this application cycle works out well!
 
I'm really excited to apply to MSUCOM! I'm a resident attending undergrad out of state, but I miss being far from my family. I got a chance to spend a day at the EL campus with a current student this spring, and I really loved the feel of the school. My science gpa is a little low, but I feel optimistic about my chances. Good luck to everyone!
 
Secondary received and turned in, now time to wait!

Also, I went to the Macomb campus today for a tour - it's really impressive. Everything is brand new, clean, and all the amenities are great.
 
Working on this secondary, but I gotta say, it is sooo annoying. Why couldn't they just put all the files together, or have an online app or something? geez
 
sedaniel said:
Working on this secondary, but I gotta say, it is sooo annoying. Why couldn't they just put all the files together, or have an online app or something? geez
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It could probably be organized in a more user-friendly way. Also, I'd kill for a web-submission option, since either the post office (most likely) or MSUCOMs office has apparently lost one of my LoRs already.
 
Does MSU COM's secondary come as an email? If so can someone forward the entire secondary to me.

Thankss
 
I noticed that they say on their website their ideal candidate has taken at least 5 upper level bio courses that are similar to what will be taken the first year of school. How strongly do they weigh this? I am a psych major so it's difficult enough to take the pre-med required classes let alone upper level bio classes that do not pertain to my major. anyone get in with only 2-3 upper level bio classes?
 
I know it is a lot of forms..and not an online application, but do you receive all of the information (via PDF or something) through an email? I ask, because my "current address" listed isn't actually my current address for another three weeks, and I would hate to miss out on time filling out the forms...

Thanks!

Good luck to everyone in all of the craziness 🙂
 
2110 said:
I know it is a lot of forms..and not an online application, but do you receive all of the information (via PDF or something) through an email? I ask, because my "current address" listed isn't actually my current address for another three weeks, and I would hate to miss out on time filling out the forms...

Thanks!

Good luck to everyone in all of the craziness 🙂
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They send a link to you via email, from which you download the secondary forms. So as long as your email address is up to date, you should be fine.
 
Whites83 said:
Finally got an email saying my secondary application has been received and is complete. Let the long wait begin!
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Same here. I wonder if they will review any this month? In the e-mail they said they review apps 2-4 times per month, right? I wonder when the first round of the acceptances are sent out?


I wonderrrr.....
 
jzrull said:
Same here. I wonder if they will review any this month? In the e-mail they said they review apps 2-4 times per month, right? I wonder when the first round of the acceptances are sent out?


I wonderrrr.....
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I'm pretty sure the admissions committee doesn't start meeting until August, so that's likely when they'll start.
 
Hey everyone

I really want to go to MSUCOM and I meet all the requirements except one...the mcat. I have a cGPA 3.64 & scGPA 3.68. I have over a 1000 hrs of volunteering and over 1000 hrs of extracurricular activities. I worked on a NIHT funded grant project with a prof. and participated in this years research forum. I have received a 4.0 in the upper level biochemistry course that MSU places so much weight on. I have meet with the director of admissions a couple times and she knows my file well. I have 2 great LORs. But and this is a big but I got a 17 the mcat. 7PS, 8BS, 2VR, & OWS. I know people have gotten in with MCAT scores in the low 20s but the highest I ever got on a practice is a 22. I don't know what to do because to be blunt I am too poor to afford kaplan or princeton or even expensive study materials that aren't linked to a study class. To top it off I work basically full time. If anyone could give me some tips or ideas as what to do I would greatly appreciate it. Forgot, I already submitted my secondary on 7/15/2010 and I am scheduled to retake my MCAT august 13th, should I release my 17 or wait to get my new score to release my MCATs. Thanks

"Who I am makes the world a better place!"
A man with a vision
 
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rmoo117 said:
Hey everyone

I really want to go to MSUCOM and I meet all the requirements except one...the mcat. I have a cGPA 3.64 & scGPA 3.68. I have over a 1000 hrs of volunteering and over 1000 hrs of extracurricular activities. I worked on a NIHT funded grant project with a prof. and participated in this years research forum. I have received a 4.0 in the upper level biochemistry course that MSU places so much weight on. I have meet with the director of admissions a couple times and she knows my file well. I have 2 great LORs. But and this is a big but I got a 17 the mcat. 7PS, 8BS, 2VR, & OWS. I know people have gotten in with MCAT scores in the low 20s but the highest I ever got on a practice is a 22. I don't know what to do because to be blunt I am too poor to afford kaplan or princeton or even expensive study materials that aren't linked to a study class. To top it off I work basically full time. If anyone could give me some tips or ideas as what to do I would greatly appreciate it. Forgot, I already submitted my secondary on 7/15/2010 and I am scheduled to retake my MCAT august 13th, should I release my 17 or wait to get my new score to release my MCATs. Thanks

"Who I am makes the world a better place!"
A man with a vision
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wait, definitely wait, a 17 might get u rejected right away, ur gpa is good so try to get that 2 in verbal up to at least a 7, if you can do that, you'll have a much better chance, still not a good chance but a much better chance nonetheless.
 
rmoo117 said:
Hey everyone

I really want to go to MSUCOM and I meet all the requirements except one...the mcat. I have a cGPA 3.64 & scGPA 3.68. I have over a 1000 hrs of volunteering and over 1000 hrs of extracurricular activities. I worked on a NIHT funded grant project with a prof. and participated in this years research forum. I have received a 4.0 in the upper level biochemistry course that MSU places so much weight on. I have meet with the director of admissions a couple times and she knows my file well. I have 2 great LORs. But and this is a big but I got a 17 the mcat. 7PS, 8BS, 2VR, & OWS. I know people have gotten in with MCAT scores in the low 20s but the highest I ever got on a practice is a 22. I don't know what to do because to be blunt I am too poor to afford kaplan or princeton or even expensive study materials that aren't linked to a study class. To top it off I work basically full time. If anyone could give me some tips or ideas as what to do I would greatly appreciate it. Forgot, I already submitted my secondary on 7/15/2010 and I am scheduled to retake my MCAT august 13th, should I release my 17 or wait to get my new score to release my MCATs. Thanks

"Who I am makes the world a better place!"
A man with a vision
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Most schools hold your app till the receive your new scores. Never in this boat when I applied last cycle though. You may want to check with admissions. Either way, they will probably wait to make a decision till they get the august score. Also, if you already submitted your primary and secondary, as you seem to have stated, wouldn't you have already reported the MCAT. Good luck with your MCAT and application.
 
rmoo117 said:
Hey everyone

I really want to go to MSUCOM and I meet all the requirements except one...the mcat. I have a cGPA 3.64 & scGPA 3.68. I have over a 1000 hrs of volunteering and over 1000 hrs of extracurricular activities. I worked on a NIHT funded grant project with a prof. and participated in this years research forum. I have received a 4.0 in the upper level biochemistry course that MSU places so much weight on. I have meet with the director of admissions a couple times and she knows my file well. I have 2 great LORs. But and this is a big but I got a 17 the mcat. 7PS, 8BS, 2VR, & OWS. I know people have gotten in with MCAT scores in the low 20s but the highest I ever got on a practice is a 22. I don't know what to do because to be blunt I am too poor to afford kaplan or princeton or even expensive study materials that aren't linked to a study class. To top it off I work basically full time. If anyone could give me some tips or ideas as what to do I would greatly appreciate it. Forgot, I already submitted my secondary on 7/15/2010 and I am scheduled to retake my MCAT august 13th, should I release my 17 or wait to get my new score to release my MCATs. Thanks

"Who I am makes the world a better place!"
A man with a vision
Click to expand...


Yeah, definitely retake the MCAT. I met with an advisor because my physics score is low (6) and she said that they dont accept anything below a 5 in any section. I was in the same boat as you too, I work full time and can't afford the kaplan crap. To bring up your verbal, read read read! I know it sounds obvious, but do it! Read online articles. Pick the most BORING articles you can find and read them. Spend AT LEAST an hour reading them a day. It really helped me, I ended up with an 11 in verbal! Best of luck :luck: and don't give up!
 
Absolute minimums to even have your secondary looked at:

"Academic minimum standards for receiving a supplemental application are 2.70 science and overall grade-point average, and total Medical College Admission Test score of 18, with subject-area minimums of 4 in verbal reasoning, 5 in physical sciences, and 6 in biological sciences. "

http://www.com.msu.edu/admissions/msu.com.admissions.html

In case you were wondering: the c/o 2014 had an average mcat of 26.16 and GPA of 3.57. About 14% of the class is OOS. Last year I think acceptances started coming out late August.
 
anybody know when the admission committee starts reviewing applicants??
and if i get my secondary in mid august is that a bit late?
will it weaken my shot at all?
 
I wanted to ask u guys, they said something about upper bio classes that I should have...... now what is considered upper bio,,,, I took human physio, biochem, genetics, and cell bio..... are those considered upper bio???
 
DDDOOO said:
I wanted to ask u guys, they said something about upper bio classes that I should have...... now what is considered upper bio,,,, I took human physio, biochem, genetics, and cell bio..... are those considered upper bio???
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all those are except cell bio..im pretty sure
 
DDDOOO said:
I wanted to ask u guys, they said something about upper bio classes that I should have...... now what is considered upper bio,,,, I took human physio, biochem, genetics, and cell bio..... are those considered upper bio???
Click to expand...

Upper Level Biology courses are considered 300/400 level classes.

i.e. Histology, Immunology, Neuroanatomy, Genetics, Biochem (depends on school, but I took a 400 level), Cell Bio, and etc.
 
apple3 said:
If you can get it in earlier, you should. August isn't a dealbreaker, but you need to have more competitive numbers from my understanding. I have spent a lot of time with the admissions counselors (went to MSU for ugrad and am now a masters student at MSU) and they take the top 20% or so (by using some kind of algorithm) and the committee reviews them. It's acceptance, high waitlist (guaranteed spot for following year if not taken off high waitlist, many accepted from this list typically), low waitlist (no guaranteed spot for following year, typically nobody gets off this waitlist), hold for fall grades, or reject. SOMETIMES out of state candidates are interviewed if they are on the border with their numbers.

Like I said before...in the past, people have gotten emails starting the first week of September, and the committee reviews applications on Wednesday mornings. Could be different this year, I have no idea. Best of luck to everyone!!
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thanks for the advice! yea i really got to get on it then... my LORs are taking a while..im done wit the rest tho..ill see what i can do
 
Wow... msucom works quickly! Yesturday I had only 1 LOR verified. I mailed my secondary to them around 4pm yesterday and this morning I received an email before 10am telling me that my file is complete!

Now the waiting begins. MSUCOM is one of my top favorite schools and I would love to be accepted here!
 
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