2009-2010 Michigan State Application Thread

[kia ora]

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thanks, aliba3ah. your list didn't have any sort of title or heading, but a quick search did show this as a list of schools considered public ivys (ivies?) anyhow, I had NEVER heard this! I had a great experience as an MSU undergraduate and got an amazing education, public ivy or not. the "distinction" is pretty cool, though, for whatever it's worth

 

[alibai3ah]

thanks, aliba3ah. your list didn't have any sort of title or heading, but a quick search did show this as a list of schools considered public ivys (ivies?) anyhow, I had NEVER heard this! I had a great experience as an MSU undergraduate and got an amazing education, public ivy or not. the "distinction" is pretty cool, though, for whatever it's worth

Haha i stumbled upon it recently as well, I assume it's just a way for us public school graduates to make ourselves feel better....

 

[ruiner]

thanks, aliba3ah. your list didn't have any sort of title or heading, but a quick search did show this as a list of schools considered public ivys (ivies?) anyhow, I had NEVER heard this! I had a great experience as an MSU undergraduate and got an amazing education, public ivy or not. the "distinction" is pretty cool, though, for whatever it's worth

You never heard of it but you just said you knew UofM was one...? Anyway, I went to MSU for UG too so I would never knock it. It's a great school and the medical school is very nice, but compared to other medical schools, research is not a priority.

 

[ruiner]

Admissions counselors must tell different people different things, because I was told the exact opposite by one of them.

Follow the NIH/NSF funding trends to get a very general idea of a school's focus on research. It happens everywhere and experience in research is definitely a positive on your application regardless of the school.

Was it Mr. Istwan? Because when I was talking to him about my application once and I was like should I do more research or look for a full time job at the hospital (I was working part-time). He was like "research is nice, but not a deal breaker, we like clinical work." I just assumed from that.

 

[kia ora]

You never heard of it but you just said you knew UofM was one...? Anyway, I went to MSU for UG too so I would never knock it. It's a great school and the medical school is very nice, but compared to other medical schools, research is not a priority.

I did not say that I had never heard of the term "public ivy," what I said was that I had never heard that MSU had been designated a public ivy. and it's well known that Michigan has long been considered a public ivy because anyone associated with the school will mention that at the first opportunity🙂

 

[ruiner]

Yeah the annoying alumni are part of the reason I went to state for undergrad 😉. The other is that I originally was going to be a teacher and they have the better education school. ahh well, good luck, hope we hear from here soon.

 

[OneMCATAway]

loll i love how i started a whole debate about research at MSU here! i guess i'll go with my non-sci letter as the 5th one 😛

 

[Hoody]

thanks, aliba3ah. your list didn't have any sort of title or heading, but a quick search did show this as a list of schools considered public ivys (ivies?) anyhow, I had NEVER heard this! I had a great experience as an MSU undergraduate and got an amazing education, public ivy or not. the "distinction" is pretty cool, though, for whatever it's worth

America's Best Public Colleges - released by Forbes earlier this month, not sure what its worth so take it as you will


....methodology

 

[kia ora]

America's Best Public Colleges - released by Forbes earlier this month, not sure what its worth so take it as you will


....methodology

hey, MSU cracked the top 80 Interesting study, thanks for posting it Hoody

 

[alibai3ah]

America's Best Public Colleges - released by Forbes earlier this month, not sure what its worth so take it as you will


....methodology

Hmm...their rankings are very different from what people would traditionally think of as "reputable schools". I mean not to knock anyone down, but how is UC Berkeley not the #1 public school and is behind New College of Florida?

EDIT: O I just read the methodology section. Yea they weigh lots of different factors, while Newsweek focuses mainly on "how difficult it is to get into" and "stats", which explains all the big name schools all in the top 50 or so.

 

[stayclassy]

Hmm...their rankings are very different from what people would traditionally think of as "reputable schools". I mean not to knock anyone down, but how is UC Berkeley not the #1 public school and is behind New College of Florida?

EDIT: O I just read the methodology section. Yea they weigh lots of different factors, while Newsweek focuses mainly on "how difficult it is to get into" and "stats", which explains all the big name schools all in the top 50 or so.

If you'd ever been to New College, you'd understand.

 

[netminder]

seriously? I'm sitting here looking at the most recent issue of MSU Today (a quarterly newsletter sent to MSU alumni...I am one). the entire issue is about research that is happening on the MSU campus. several of the articles discuss research being done by professors at the CHM. examples:

-George Abela, cardiology chief at CHM led a team that has shown that cholesterol crystals can disrupt plaque in a patient's cardiovascular system, causing heart attack or stroke

-Janet Osuch, professor of surgery and epidemiology at CHM, is a lead author of a study showing that prenatal exposure to DDE may have a role in female obesity

There's more, but I don't feel like typing it all up. MSU is a HUGE research institution. it's the only university in the States that has three medical schools (CHM, COM and the vet school). there is heaps of research going on in other departments, and surely there is cross-collaboration between CHM and other programs.

Incidentally, this newsletter also mentions that the CHM program in rural medicine has been ranked #7 in the latest USNWR rankings.

to say that any part of MSU, let alone the CHM, isn't big on research shows a lack of research into the school on the part of the person making such a statement

Nice post, kia ora.

The impression I'm getting during my limited experience with this process is that if you have research experience, regardless of which institutions to which one is applying, if one has reserach experience, this will be highly regarded. It won't get you into a school if you don't have the other necessary criteria, but having spoken to people at MSU (and Michigan, and other places), it seems like if you have it, it could make your application stand out from some one else's. I guess the bottom line is that such experience will never hurt your application.

 

[PhiAlpha]

Hey All,
I handed in my supplemental and had recs and MCAT cleared and I received an email saying my secondary was in and fee was paid but I never received a "Complete" email. Did you guys receive a "Complete" email.


Thanks a lot,

 

[ruiner]

Hey All,
I handed in my supplemental and had recs and MCAT cleared and I received an email saying my secondary was in and fee was paid but I never received a "Complete" email. Did you guys receive a "Complete" email.


Thanks a lot,

No just status update.

 

[totallyskates]

Hey Guys!

Is there a link for this secondary? If so, would you mind posting it? Thanks!

 

[camaras2480]

Hey Guys!

Is there a link for this secondary? If so, would you mind posting it? Thanks!

I think it is invite only. Someone +1 me.

 

[kia ora]

I think it is invite only. Someone +1 me.

+1 for camaras2480🙂

I am fairly certain that MSU does not screen, but you can't access the secondary until they send you an email with the link. so just be patient; as long as you listed MSU on your amcas you'll eventually get the secondary

why am I on SDN? I need to go finish this secondary!

 

[camaras2480]

+1 for camaras2480🙂

I am fairly certain that MSU does not screen, but you can't access the secondary until they send you an email with the link. so just be patient; as long as you listed MSU on your amcas you'll eventually get the secondary

why am I on SDN? I need to go finish this secondary!

haha thank you!! 😀

 

[netminder]

Hey All,
I handed in my supplemental and had recs and MCAT cleared and I received an email saying my secondary was in and fee was paid but I never received a "Complete" email. Did you guys receive a "Complete" email.


Thanks a lot,

No, I didn't receive an e-mail. I was just suprised to see that my status had changed to "complete" when I checked the AIS Web site.

 

[musicaldna]

How long did it take you guys to be complete from the time of submitting LORs/Secondary?

I submitted mine on Aug 9th and my status still shows secondary received but waiting for LORs.

 

[LOSAR]

hold for interview decision...
bah

 

[Quicky]

hold for interview decision...
bah

When were you complete?

 

[LOSAR]

When were you complete?

yesterday. lol.
3.67/32/oos

 

[Quicky]

yesterday. lol.
3.67/32/oos

Wow that was quick. Has anyone else gotten any status other than forwarded for review?

 

[kia ora]

I just typed my responses directly into each box and didn't have any problems with any characters not being saved.

I cut and pasted from Word into the boxes on the application and quotes did not transfer. I had to add them directly into the text boxes. also, a caveat for anyone cutting and pasting from Word: when I did this there was a discrepancy between the character count in Word and that in the application. about a 300 character difference (lower in Word, higher in the app.). I had to edit down all of my essays to make the limit and they ended up sounding a bit more stilted than I would have liked!

I have a lot of love for MSU; I hope they have some for me...

good luck, all!

 

[alibai3ah]

I cut and pasted from Word into the boxes on the application and quotes did not transfer. I had to add them directly into the text boxes. also, a caveat for anyone cutting and pasting from Word: when I did this there was a discrepancy between the character count in Word and that in the application. about a 300 character difference (lower in Word, higher in the app.). I had to edit down all of my essays to make the limit and they ended up sounding a bit more stilted than I would have liked!

I have a lot of love for MSU; I hope they have some for me...

good luck, all!

Yea I submitted mine today and luckily changed that before. But I can't imagine the number of kids who submitted without knowing this....

 

[BlueElmo]

Still under review.

 

[CdnHopeful]

So, do they complete you right away? Cause I submitted my secondary app and assigned my LOR, but it's been a week and I haven't been "completed" and forwarded to preliminary review yet

 

[ruiner]

So, do they complete you right away? Cause I submitted my secondary app and assigned my LOR, but it's been a week and I haven't been "completed" and forwarded to preliminary review yet

It took them about a week to complete me and I submitted over the first weekend the secondary was out. Don't worry about it yet, they are probably just busy with classes starting and the influx of new apps.

As far as status, also still under review.

 

[reidmike]

Still under review.

Me, too....

 

[netminder]

Wow that was quick. Has anyone else gotten any status other than forwarded for review?

/

No, mine is still under review, too. I submitted mine the Monday (7/27) after that Friday eve when the secondary became available. On 8/4, my status was updated to "complete". No changes since then.

 

[Andy71600]

just submitted

 

[buffywannabe]

I get an error when I try to check my status...

 

[BlueElmo]

I can log in fine.

 

[buffywannabe]

I can log in fine.

maybe I am trying to log into the wrong place... what url do you use?

 

[Vincent Freeman]

I just payed the secondary fee and I registered online - howeever, I see no where to fill in secondary. On main menu I only see:

• Check Application Status
• Change Password
• Logout

What is the deal?

Vincent

 

[netminder]

maybe I am trying to log into the wrong place... what url do you use?

http://chmapp.hc.msu.edu/aplocal/applicants/menu.php

Good luck.

 

[netminder]

I just payed the secondary fee and I registered online - howeever, I see no where to fill in secondary. On main menu I only see:

• Check Application Status
• Change Password
• Logout

What is the deal?
Vincent

I accessed the secondary via this site:

http://mdadmissions.msu.edu/main/process.htm

I received this in an e-mail message. It said if we have questions, we can e-mail them at [email protected]

Good luck.

 

[Quicky]

I've been able to login fine all along but suddenly today I get a fatal error every time.

 

[OneMCATAway]

i cant get myself to start this one, the first two questions really suck specially #2!!

 

[netminder]

I've been able to login fine all along but suddenly today I get a fatal error every time.

That's weird. I would try e-mailing them. The address I have is:

[email protected]

 

[kia ora]

marked complete within two days of submitting

MSU, you complete me...

 

[alibai3ah]

marked complete within two days of submitting

MSU, you complete me...

I know, same here, they are VERY efficient!

 

[snitchseeker88]

How strict are they on completing the secondary application within two weeks of paying the fee? It says they "encourage" it, but is it a strict requirement. What if I'm a few days off...I have a lab report to write, and a midterm coming up so I'm wondering if I need to do this right away. Thanks.

 

[camaras2480]

How strict are they on completing the secondary application within two weeks of paying the fee? It says they "encourage" it, but is it a strict requirement. What if I'm a few days off...I have a lab report to write, and a midterm coming up so I'm wondering if I need to do this right away. Thanks.

As always, the earlier the better. MSU does roll, so you wanna try to get on that ball 😛

No, they won't reject you for missing the 2 week deadline - it is what it is: an encouragement. But if I were you, I would really try to submit by Day #14.

 

[Disinence2]

You never heard of it but you just said you knew UofM was one...? Anyway, I went to MSU for UG too so I would never knock it. It's a great school and the medical school is very nice, but compared to other medical schools, research is not a priority.

Hello,

Just to give you a head up MSU's stance on research is changing quite a big with the Grand rapids expansion. We have an epidemiology/Research analasis course during years 1,2 and 3. As well as numerous opportunities to get involved with research partnering with Van Andel, spectrum, and St. Mary's.

So even though "MSU" doesn't do a ton of research, you will be affiliated with other institutions that do. Also we have a required research experience/presentation you will do 3rd year that is pretty standard at most medical schools these day. I know a few people with 1st author publications written during their years at CHM.

Good luck! Enjoy orientation!

 

[kcmedic]

oh, and for anyone flipping out about the "two week" time limit between fee payment and submission of secondary, the website says that submission within two weeks of payment is "encouraged" not required. certainly, earlier is better but if you're coming up on the two weeks and aren't yet finished (like me...I want my essays to be perfect! so it's taking forever...), try not to worry too much about it. good luck, all!

whew thanks for that...

 

[netminder]

Hello,

Just to give you a head up MSU's stance on research is changing quite a big with the Grand rapids expansion. We have an epidemiology/Research analasis course during years 1,2 and 3. As well as numerous opportunities to get involved with research partnering with Van Andel, spectrum, and St. Mary's.

So even though "MSU" doesn't do a ton of research, you will be affiliated with other institutions that do. Also we have a required research experience/presentation you will do 3rd year that is pretty standard at most medical schools these day. I know a few people with 1st author publications written during their years at CHM.

Good luck! Enjoy orientation!

Thanks for the update. This is great information. There is a ton of potential for people with an interest in research, it seems, both in Grand Rapids and in East Lansing. Good luck with the rest of your program.

 

[kcmedic]

Submitted!👍

 

[Vincent Freeman]

I accessed the secondary via this site:

http://mdadmissions.msu.edu/main/process.htm

I received this in an e-mail message. It said if we have questions, we can e-mail them at [email protected]

Good luck.

Thanks!

I emailed them last week and got a reply this morning. They added the secondary option to my page.

cheers