2009-2010 Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Application Thread

[flip26]

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dammit they changed the essay from last year....not to mention i just called the office and got some horrible news. They actually care what your SATs are...they want to use it to base it on how well you test...i ****ing bombed the sats like 1000? I didnt even study or care since i knew i wasnt going to college,i took it becuase i was forced too...thye are gonna see that and screen me out ahah...i dont think ill even fill vcu out now. I dont even know what a good sat score is is like 1200+ good? I took it in like 2001?

Also is anyone using firefox and having problems? It wont let me save...

Yes, problems.

I see that it only supports IE and Netscape. Mentions Mozilla, but that is technically different from Firefox, I think...

Can someone call or write to find out if Firefox will work, or if not, Safari?

Edit: I just sent an email to tech support, asking for Mac users if Safari or Firefox is OK...

 

[OneMCATAway]

Very sad right now. There is no change on my status page...screened out?? I really didn't think my stats were low enough for this to happen so early in the game.

dont worry it will come soon! my mcat is much lower than yours and i got one! you will get it too

 

[neuromcdoctor]

dont worry it will come soon! my mcat is much lower than yours and i got one! you will get it too

Thanks, I really hope I get it.

 

[mrmacey]

'Why VCU' is the only actual essay in the supplemental. I think there's a mess-up in the application. There are only drag down boxes for the fields of choice (3).

'The essay has a limited length, so be certain that you know your material will fit in the allotted space (approximately 500-600 words).'

 

[Caesar]

My GPA and MCAT are both lower than yours. The only significant thing I see is you are Canadian, maybe that matters? More likely that they just haven't gotten to you yet. They are probably learning from some of the other schools not to inundate the system by sending the app to everyone at once.

 

[Ilovewater]

Would it be OK to state that I'm interested in VCU just because of their curriculum? I really don't know anything else about Virginia.... I feel like I should add more.

 

[Appless]

Would it be OK to state that I'm interested in VCU just because of their curriculum? I really don't know anything else about Virginia.... I feel like I should add more.

cirriculum/research/community opportunities/location/any other BS...lol. Those are probably the 4 main things every school will see. If you dont know a lot and thats the best you can come up with then that is that. I dont know about VCU but some schools really do understand that you wont know a lot about the school until you are there...

 

[camaras2480]

cirriculum/research/community opportunities/location/any other BS...lol.

👍 😀 and

 

[mannyowens]

?

 

[OneMCATAway]

quick question: how do we find our SAT scores? ahh i barely remember from back in 2002 and also do we need to send it to them?!!!!!

 

[Appless]

quick question: how do we find our SAT scores? ahh i barely remember from back in 2002 and also do we need to send it to them?!!!!!

You can ballpark it so to speak, I mean dont say you got a 1500 or something (i dont even know how high sat scores can go) but if you are close its fine. Thats what the admin office told me today. I remember getting something in the 1100s so im just going to write a number near that.

 

[Ilovewater]

Has anyone noticed that when you go to verify your application, the essay you write as to why you are interested in VCU is under a totally different prompt?

Prompt on verification page:
The admissions committee requests that you write another essay that provides us with some insight into you as a person. The content should NOT repeat anything that we can learn from the AMCAS essay. However, other than that you may discuss any topic you choose.

Also...for number 3, instead of listing the specialties you chose, there's a prompt on how you plan to choose your specialties.

 

[Appless]

Has anyone noticed that when you go to verify your application, the essay you write as to why you are interested in VCU is under a totally different prompt?

Prompt on verification page:
The admissions committee requests that you write another essay that provides us with some insight into you as a person. The content should NOT repeat anything that we can learn from the AMCAS essay. However, other than that you may discuss any topic you choose.

Also...for number 3, instead of listing the specialties you chose, there's a prompt on how you plan to choose your specialties.

I think its a mistake from last year since they are last years prompts...id call just to doubel check...im not even close to finishing this so i havnt bothered yet.

 

[nick_carraway]

I think its a mistake from last year since they are last years prompts...id call just to doubel check...im not even close to finishing this so i havnt bothered yet.

You and me both. I'm annoyed that they changed their essays by so much. I had to triple-check that I was looking at the right one, especially since I had no idea where the SAT discussion came from.

 

[Sleight]

Ok I just got it too...I was sort of hoping to have the weekend off from secondaries...oh well! haha

 

[kazza2ud]

so are we sure they are using the new essay? yea it sucks they changed it but... it's not like we could really use last years essay, our application would probably end up in the garbage

so wait, we have 500-600 words here. so are we thinking another personal statement bridged to the unique qualities of VCU, and what a perfect marriage it would be, etc etc? Can't I just write about aliens or something? I did a Physiology grad program at VCU and I couldn't even tell you how the curriculum is unique. To the person who said that was their primary reason -- are you talking about FCM or something?

 

[wahoo2010]

Got the secondary a few hours ago

 

[jackson1]

Hooray got screened in🙂 Now I have 4 secondaries to do this weekend though ugh!

 

[Sleight]

Hooray got screened in🙂 Now I have 4 secondaries to do this weekend though ugh!

haha yeah tell me about it...i am working on getting 3 submitted today and then moving on to this one...

 

[OneMCATAway]

i am currently sitting on 7.. and this one is the only one that screens 😍.. so much for taking a vacation this weekend.. ill be on my computer forever..

 

[neelson88]

anyone know if VCU accepts AP credit for prereqs? hard to find info about it on the admissions website...

 

[Sleight]

i am currently sitting on 7.. and this one is the only one that screens 😍.. so much for taking a vacation this weekend.. ill be on my computer forever..

7?? Did you get them all today or yesterday or just putting them off throughout the week?

 

[OneMCATAway]

7?? Did you get them all today or yesterday or just putting them off throughout the week?

last option ;P i sent some to my adviser to proofread and she still didnt get back to me today.. i just want everything to be perfect so i have to get a couple approvals before i send them in which is taking me a while.. im being kinda slow about these secondaries 😳

 

[Appless]

last option ;P i sent some to my adviser to proofread and she still didnt get back to me today.. i just want everything to be perfect so i have to get a couple approvals before i send them in which is taking me a while.. im being kinda slow about these secondaries 😳

slow for sdn = extremely fast for normal people lol. Everyone on sdn does the whole week turn around or less thing. I think for any secondary if you get it in within 2 weeks of getting it, you are doing fine at this stage in the game. That puts you complete around august, plenty of time for 1st interviews that start in sept-oct. Not to mention i really think now that things are electronic, it doesnt even matter about submitting too early, as the academic robots probably get cherry picked for interviews 1st anyways.

 

[OneMCATAway]

slow for sdn = extremely fast for normal people lol. Everyone on sdn does the whole week turn around or less thing. I think for any secondary if you get it in within 2 weeks of getting it, you are doing fine at this stage in the game. That puts you complete around august, plenty of time for 1st interviews that start in sept-oct. Not to mention i really think now that things are electronic, it doesnt even matter about submitting too early, as the academic robots probably get cherry picked for interviews 1st anyways.

haha thanks! i gotta start believing in my writing abilities and let go of the secondaries!! i think i am becoming to attached 😛

also i need to turn off the internet and stop checking SDN every second 😉

 

[Sleight]

last option ;P i sent some to my adviser to proofread and she still didnt get back to me today.. i just want everything to be perfect so i have to get a couple approvals before i send them in which is taking me a while.. im being kinda slow about these secondaries 😳

sorry! i didnt mean it like that! within a week or two is definitely still quick! what i was trying to ask is whether you got them all in a couple of days (because that has been happening to me lately and it kills me!) or whether it was spread over a week. I didn't mean to discourage you at all! SORRY! 🙂

 

[OneMCATAway]

sorry! i didnt mean it like that! within a week or two is definitely still quick! what i was trying to ask is whether you got them all in a couple of days (because that has been happening to me lately and it kills me!) or whether it was spread over a week. I didn't mean to discourage you at all! SORRY! 🙂

no worries, ive really been lazy through this whole process! i got about one a day (except yesterday) and sometimes two. I still have some from last week like RFU because i am editing the essays or BU that im unsure if i am going to leave the optional essays blank! i have a draft for 3 now and i have to work on 4 while i go on vacation this weekend *joy*

most of the ones i have left including this one is why you want to go to our school so they require a bit researching 🙂

good luck with your secondaries, it feels good to get caught up 😉

 

[Sleight]

no worries, ive really been lazy through this whole process! i got about one a day (except yesterday) and sometimes two. I still have some from last week like RFU because i am editing the essays or BU that im unsure if i am going to leave the optional essays blank! i have a draft for 3 now and i have to work on 4 while i go on vacation this weekend *joy*

most of the ones i have left including this one is why you want to go to our school so they require a bit researching 🙂

good luck with your secondaries, it feels good to get caught up 😉

I was going to be caught up and possibly done for the weekend until i got VCU...but i am going to try to finish it tonight and then i will hopefully have a free weekend since they generally dont send them over the weekend (unless they are mailed...which hopefully i wont get any of those)...

 

[murdoc9]

so earlier today when i submitted my app and paid the fee, my homepage changed to this:


This is to acknowledge the $100.00 covering your deposit on tuition for August 2009 matriculation. Your credit card statement or cancelled check will serve as your receipt. We have made the proper reservation of a place for you and are looking forward to having you with us.

Classes are scheduled to begin in August. You will receive information on our website for orientation which will have a detailed schedule before classes start.

In order that your record may be complete, please remember to have a complete, official, terminal transcript sent from each institution you have attended. The transcripts you submitted to AMCAS are not forwarded to us.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions which may arise.

I almost got excited, and then i didn't, haha. Why must you taunt me so, med school?

 

[Sleight]

so earlier today when i submitted my app and paid the fee, my homepage changed to this:


This is to acknowledge the $100.00 covering your deposit on tuition for August 2009 matriculation. Your credit card statement or cancelled check will serve as your receipt. We have made the proper reservation of a place for you and are looking forward to having you with us.

Classes are scheduled to begin in August. You will receive information on our website for orientation which will have a detailed schedule before classes start.

In order that your record may be complete, please remember to have a complete, official, terminal transcript sent from each institution you have attended. The transcripts you submitted to AMCAS are not forwarded to us.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions which may arise.

I almost got excited, and then i didn't, haha. Why must you taunt me so, med school?

wait...does this mean you have been accepted???

 

[murdoc9]

i'm pretty sure it's a huge glitch in the system, considering it says august 2009 matriculation haha. wouldnt that be nice though?

 

[Sleight]

i'm pretty sure it's a huge glitch in the system, considering it says august 2009 matriculation haha. wouldnt that be nice though?

oh haha i didnt even see the 2009...

 

[camaras2480]

oh haha i didnt even see the 2009...

lol. from what i am hearing, seems like several schools are glitching all over the place this cycle.

 

[OneMCATAway]

is there a max for the number of letters here?! i know 3 is required but i couldnt find any info about additional letters..

 

[alljazz]

What does it mean:

Please briefly explain any lapses in your undergraduate education

Lapses in time? Bad grades?????

Good luck everyone!😉

 

[flip26]

Has anyone successfully saved and submitted this one using Firefox or Safari?

 

[Appless]

Has anyone successfully saved and submitted this one using Firefox or Safari?

it was saving for me using firefox. I havnt submitted yet though and i wont probably until next week soemtime.

 

[camaras2480]

What does it mean:

Please briefly explain any lapses in your undergraduate education

Lapses in time? Bad grades?????

Good luck everyone!😉

It is referring to when you fell asleep in a given class. Please discuss whether or not the information presented during this time successfully diffused into your neurons.

 

[PlaceboEffect]

Very sad right now. There is no change on my status page...screened out?? I really didn't think my stats were low enough for this to happen so early in the game.

I don't think you should have gotten screened out with your stats. Maybe it's a mistake? You might want to call them and ask, just to make sure.

 

[Coug42]

Has anyone successfully saved and submitted this one using Firefox or Safari?

I submitted mine yesterday, and it went through just fine using Firefox.

 

[Sleight]

Are you guys really filling the space? I just wrote my essay and it is 301 words! I feel like it would be sort of a stretch to go any further but that is like HALF of the length they provide...just wondering if you guys are filling space or not...

 

[camaras2480]

Are you guys really filling the space? I just wrote my essay and it is 301 words! I feel like it would be sort of a stretch to go any further but that is like HALF of the length they provide...just wondering if you guys are filling space or not...

There is no need to fill the space. I would anticipate that the average applicant will write 350-400 words.

 

[Appless]

There is no need to fill the space. I would anticipate that the average applicant will write 350-400 words.

mines 200 if it makes you feel better, i fail haha

 

[camaras2480]

mines 200 if it makes you feel better, i fail haha

Why not add a few lines like that say I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. ?? Just an idea.

 

[Sleight]

Why not add a few lines like that say I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. I <3 VCU. ?? Just an idea.

GOOD IDEA!!! Thanks for the help! i will add that in!! haha

 

[Ilovewater]

I submitted mine yesterday, and it went through just fine using Firefox.

Did yours show the wrong essay prompts on the verification page? I'm waiting to submit just in case. I emailed the admissions on Friday afternoon so hopefully will hear back on Monday.

 

[Sleight]

are you guys saying you are willing to participate at both campuses? I feel like this is a binding agreement like they use this information in the future so i want to make it right...any ups and downs to each campus that you guys know about?

 

[Sleight]

Did yours show the wrong essay prompts on the verification page? I'm waiting to submit just in case. I emailed the admissions on Friday afternoon so hopefully will hear back on Monday.

yeah did anyone ever call about that?

 

[camaras2480]

GOOD IDEA!!! Thanks for the help! i will add that in!! haha

Hey, if I were reviewing your application, I would be really impressed that you had the balls (whether dropped or internal) to write that haha. Bonus point in my assessment. 🙂

 

[camaras2480]

are you guys saying you are willing to participate at both campuses? I feel like this is a binding agreement like they use this information in the future so i want to make it right...any ups and downs to each campus that you guys know about?

I do not believe this is a binding agreement. Especially because the vast majority of students put two of the campuses as either 3rd or 4th. Obviously, this wouldn't work.