2009-2010 Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Application Thread

[DO_doctor]

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Like I said, I've never heard anyone report that happened to them. Of course, that's only referring to when the waitlist is formulated. There are certainly many people who don't make it off the waitlist by the end of the summer and are ultimately rejected.

ok thanks for the info. lets hope for the acceptance!

 

[Ilovewater]

Let me know if that cleared things up or only muddied the water further.

Thanks for the information! Really appreciate it. I wish they would tell us our priority scores haha.

 

[tatchle1]

Hey everybody. Just had my interview at VCU yesterday and I absolutely loved this school. It takes all the things I've liked that are spread across multiple schools, and combines them into one. For example: Non-mandatory classes only half of the day, video-taped lectures, systems-based curriculum (in the 2nd year, anyways), awesome places to study, awesome simulation center, multiple hospitals in the near vicinity, study abroad opportunities, overall nice facilities, bla bla bla.

I honestly did not know much about this school before the interview, it was just another school that I checked to apply to on AMCAS. Lo and behold I got an interview, decided to check it out, and I think it's my number one choice out of the places I've interviewed.

I'm super pumped about hearing back from this school, cause I feel like I did as well as I ever could have during my interview. Come on, December 15th!

 

[alibai3ah]

I understand your question. The way this works is that post-interview, you receive a priority score. 1 is best, 5 is worst. If you're higher than 3.5, you're rejected. If you're less than 3.5, you're put on hold till the next offer date. For that offer date, they accept a specific number of people (about 50), and they set the threshold so that all people below a certain priority score are accepted.

So, let's say your priority score is 2.2. For the October 16th offer date, in order to accept 50 people, they find that the priority score threshold must be 1.9. You then remain on hold. For the Dec. 15th date, they must perform the same process. Remember that more will have interviewed between 10/16 and 12/15, and some of those interviewees will have received very strong scores, such as 1.2, and others will have received worse scores. So, it's possible, depending on the strength of interviewees, that the priority score threshold could actually drop for the next batch, say to 1.6. If the group of interviewers wasn't as strong, the threshold may be set at 2.2. In the latter case, you'd get in on the Dec. 15th date.

The bottom line is that it's impossible to predict what the priority score threshold will be and even if you could, since you don't know your priority score, you don't know where that leaves you. Your best bet is probably getting in at the first available offer date after you've been reviewed, but it's still possible that you'd get in at later dates.

Let me know if that cleared things up or only muddied the water further.

Two questions

1) Could grade updates improve your priority score potentially or no?

2) You did a very good job explaining the whole range thing! But my question is that if the range for potential acceptances can go up from 1.6 to 1.9, then would the range for rejections drop from 3.5 to 3.2? I'm just saying that if they sent out acceptances every date, do they send out additional rejections as well. Or is the person with a 3.4 left hanging and hoping without any idea that he or she has very little chance? 🙁

Sorry I hope I worded #2 clearly

 

[Heidiho]

Two questions

1) Could grade updates improve your priority score potentially or no?

2) You did a very good job explaining the whole range thing! But my question is that if the range for potential acceptances can go up from 1.6 to 1.9, then would the range for rejections drop from 3.5 to 3.2? I'm just saying that if they sent out acceptances every date, do they send out additional rejections as well. Or is the person with a 3.4 left hanging and hoping without any idea that he or she has very little chance? 🙁

Sorry I hope I worded #2 clearly

1)Dr Whitehurst-Cook said at the interview info session that updates and further letters would not change your priority score at all, but may help once the waitlist is made up.......if you are lucky enough to be waitlisted.
Also, apparently IS waitlisters have a lot more mvmt then OOS waitlisters.
2) I don't think they send outright rejections unless you are a 3.5 or higher......just linger on the waitlist until the end?.....but I could be wrong.

 

[GHLBC]

Congratulations to all of you!

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=678138

 

[ChimpanzeeMinky]

Two questions

1) Could grade updates improve your priority score potentially or no?

2) You did a very good job explaining the whole range thing! But my question is that if the range for potential acceptances can go up from 1.6 to 1.9, then would the range for rejections drop from 3.5 to 3.2? I'm just saying that if they sent out acceptances every date, do they send out additional rejections as well. Or is the person with a 3.4 left hanging and hoping without any idea that he or she has very little chance? 🙁

Sorry I hope I worded #2 clearly

Heidiho is right on both counts. Once given, your priority score is set in stone. My understanding is that the waitlist is in order of priority score as well, but if Dr. Whitehurst-Cook said updates would affect your position there, I would definitely defer to her.

If you don't get rejected immediately with a score worse than 3.5, you won't get rejected at later dates. 3.5 is an absolute threshold, and only applies once.

 

[ramzax]

does anyone know if VCU accepts letters of interest or not?

 

[filhodeinferno]

does anyone know if VCU accepts letters of interest or not?

At my interview this question was brought up to the dean of admissions and she flat-out said that they do not help you. She mentioned that they received hundreds of them, and it's hard to tell if they're sincere because some people send them to every school they apply to.

 

[CSMD2B]

I'm trying to wrap my mind around the whole process here. Someone with a grasp on this situation, please shed some light:

Post interview, they will review your file. Once you receive notification from them it is either to decline or to tell you that you are on hold until the next decision date. At the next decision date you are either accepted or put into the hold pool which will make up the wait list come march.

Can someone please confirm this is the process? If so, it would mean that post-interview, receiving a hold notification before the next decision date is a GOOD thing?

Thanks for the help guys. Best of luck.

 

[reveille16]

I'm trying to wrap my mind around the whole process here. Someone with a grasp on this situation, please shed some light:

Post interview, they will review your file. Once you receive notification from them it is either to decline or to tell you that you are on hold until the next decision date. At the next decision date you are either accepted or put into the hold pool which will make up the wait list come march.

Can someone please confirm this is the process? If so, it would mean that post-interview, receiving a hold notification before the next decision date is a GOOD thing?

Thanks for the help guys. Best of luck.

This is correct. If you receive a hold notification post-interview it is likely that you were not rejected. At the next uniform decision date you will find out if this "hold" turns into an acceptance. It is possible to get a rejection on the uniform acceptance date, but I have never heard of this happening. VCU is usually pretty good about rejecting people quickly after the interview if they won't be chosen. Lastly, if you do not hear anything during the next uniform acceptance date, then you are still on "hold" with the possibility of receiving an acceptance at the next acceptance date. If you are still on "hold" in March, you may be selected for the wait-list.

 

[OneMCATAway]

for people who interviewed a while back do you remember how soon after the interview do they change the status here? and is it the same with hold or rejection or one can come sooner than the other?!! im starting to get really anxious..

 

[GHLBC]

for people who interviewed a while back do you remember how soon after the interview do they change the status here? and is it the same with hold or rejection or one can come sooner than the other?!! im starting to get really anxious..

My status changed to "hold" the day before I was accepted. Good luck!

 

[reveille16]

My status changed to "hold" the day before I was accepted. Good luck!

Ditto. If it has been a while since your interview, and you haven't been rejected, it is probably a good sign. Good Luck!

 

[OneMCATAway]

My status changed to "hold" the day before I was accepted. Good luck!

Ditto. If it has been a while since your interview, and you haven't been rejected, it is probably a good sign. Good Luck!

Thanks guys! it hasn't been that long for me so I still do fear for rejection but hopefully my empty inbox will remain empty for a while 😉

 

[PoohBear88]

Just withdrew from an interview on December 7th due to an acceptance. So the space is open. Good luck everyone!

 

[ramzax]

on average, how long has it taken everyone to hear back about an interview following completion?

 

[krwhite]

Has anyone been pulled for an interview from the "further" status? And if so, did you do anything (send in additional materials, etc.) to prompt this, or did it happen on its own?

I'd really like to hear something from VCU! Just trying to figure out if there's something I can do.

Thanks!

 

[bowlin123]

Has anyone been pulled for an interview from the "further" status? And if so, did you do anything (send in additional materials, etc.) to prompt this, or did it happen on its own?

I'd really like to hear something from VCU! Just trying to figure out if there's something I can do.

Thanks!

Me! I didn't do anything in particular, except waited for 2-3 months after the further status to receive my interview invite.

 

[derArzt]

Has anyone been pulled for an interview from the "further" status? And if so, did you do anything (send in additional materials, etc.) to prompt this, or did it happen on its own?

I'd really like to hear something from VCU! Just trying to figure out if there's something I can do.

Thanks!

My wait was exactly a month and got one, good luck!

 

[10M]

My wait was exactly a month and got one, good luck!

I got the further message September 4th but haven't heard anything yet...

 

[krwhite]

Thanks for the input, guys! I'll keep my fingers crossed. 🙂

 

[s2thindi]

Got this message today:

The committee's file review indicates that they would like to consider your file further. We are now in the process of scheduling interviews and will continue to do so through February. Unfortunately, the committee indicates interest in far more candidates than we are able to interview. Since we are dependent on the Committee member's schedules for interview spaces, we are unable to predict when or if we will be able to schedule you this year. Please continue to check this site to learn when further action has been taken.

Any hope of getting an interview?

 

[OneMCATAway]

Got this message today:

The committee's file review indicates that they would like to consider your file further. We are now in the process of scheduling interviews and will continue to do so through February. Unfortunately, the committee indicates interest in far more candidates than we are able to interview. Since we are dependent on the Committee member's schedules for interview spaces, we are unable to predict when or if we will be able to schedule you this year. Please continue to check this site to learn when further action has been taken.

Any hope of getting an interview?

this is the so called #3 status! there is def. hope! good luck 🙂

 

[OneMCATAway]

while im here, anyone from last week hear anything yet?!!

 

[CoolLia]

while im here, anyone from last week hear anything yet?!!

Have you gotten your interview survey yet? When last week did you interview?

 

[s2thindi]

this is the so called #3 status! there is def. hope! good luck 🙂

What does status #3 mean? ha ha. I'm guessing people get rejected before this?

 

[pre28med]

Got this message today:

The committee's file review indicates that they would like to consider your file further. We are now in the process of scheduling interviews and will continue to do so through February. Unfortunately, the committee indicates interest in far more candidates than we are able to interview. Since we are dependent on the Committee member's schedules for interview spaces, we are unable to predict when or if we will be able to schedule you this year. Please continue to check this site to learn when further action has been taken.

Any hope of getting an interview?

so i def got this message today. what do you mean by #3 status, OneMcatAway?? I feel like theres no hope by the wording.. am i mistaken??

 

[ChimpanzeeMinky]

so i def got this message today. what do you mean by #3 status, OneMcatAway?? I feel like theres no hope by the wording.. am i mistaken??

Guys. All the information you're seeking is contained within the very thread in which you're posting. Please do some reading.

 

[OneMCATAway]

Have you gotten your interview survey yet? When last week did you interview?

yea i got the survey the very next day.. it seems like rejections come within a week? i was wondering if anyone got on hold yet 😕

What does status #3 mean? ha ha. I'm guessing people get rejected before this?

so i def got this message today. what do you mean by #3 status, OneMcatAway?? I feel like theres no hope by the wording.. am i mistaken??

if you read earlier posts there are 4 statuses with fifth one being rejected..

1 is "very interested"
2 is "may" interview you
3 is "further review" possible interview
4 goes to "sub-committee"

people with #1 get interviewed almost immediately, #2 and #3 people have waited anywhere bet couple weeks to more than a month but most of them have eventually got an interview so far.. (i think?) and for #4 it all depends on what the sub-committee decides but in some cases it has lead to rejections.. hope this helps and good luck guys =)

 

[CoolLia]

yea i got the survey the very next day.. it seems like rejections come within a week? i was wondering if anyone got on hold yet 😕





if you read earlier posts there are 4 statuses with fifth one being rejected..

1 is "very interested"
2 is "may" interview you
3 is "further review" possible interview
4 goes to "sub-committee"

people with #1 get interviewed almost immediately, #2 and #3 people have waited anywhere bet couple weeks to more than a month but most of them have eventually got an interview so far.. (i think?) and for #4 it all depends on what the sub-committee decides but in some cases it has lead to rejections.. hope this helps and good luck guys =)

I assume they send out the interview surveys at the end of the week to everyone that interviewed that week. But that's just my guess because I didn't get it the very next day, rather by Thursday or Friday.

I don't think rejections come within a week. I only say this because reading back in the thread it seems people who have interviewed have been rejected up to 3 weeks later. You would think you would know by the week after your interview but they probably don't get through every interview at the Monday Adcom meetings. There are about 40 or so interviews a week. Its not likely they can get through them all every Monday.

As for the statuses, I know everyone puts a lot of emphasis on the priority numbers but it's not necessarily true #1s get interviewed/interview invites immediately. There are actually a few people left who have a #1 priority status and have not been invited to interview yet and lot of #3s got interview invites before #1s and #2s. I can't really tell what's the rule and what's the exception anymore. I think it's purposely done that way so we can't figure anything out lol

 

[s2thindi]

yea i got the survey the very next day.. it seems like rejections come within a week? i was wondering if anyone got on hold yet 😕





if you read earlier posts there are 4 statuses with fifth one being rejected..

1 is "very interested"
2 is "may" interview you
3 is "further review" possible interview
4 goes to "sub-committee"

people with #1 get interviewed almost immediately, #2 and #3 people have waited anywhere bet couple weeks to more than a month but most of them have eventually got an interview so far.. (i think?) and for #4 it all depends on what the sub-committee decides but in some cases it has lead to rejections.. hope this helps and good luck guys =)

Thanks for being so helpful. Sometimes I don't feel like digging through 30 pages... =)

Are people still receiving "status #1's"?

 

[OneMCATAway]

reading back in the thread it seems people who have interviewed have been rejected up to 3 weeks later.

really?? i guess no one is safe until the official "hold" status then..

EDIT: i forgot this:

 

[Lucky4]

ok so i just got a change in my status , i interviewed last week and they put me on hold. I am a bit confused is this a bad thing? especially because it is so soon?

 

[Lucky4]

nm I guess you don't really know until the "dates" come .

 

[Default]

Quick update to those who got the "Your file is now complete and will be forwarded to the AdCom." status on Friday.

I called the SOM and asked what is up and the lady who answered the phone said that it means our files have been forwarded to the AdCom and checked out to sub-committee for review. They also said to not be surprised if you get that status a few more times before the next decision is made. I hope this helps!

I have had two email updates saying my status has changed, and when i log on, there is no change at all. So is this forwarding to sub committee decision aka type 4 what is happening? I'm trying to be positive because I really want to go to VCU, so should I call the admissions office for clarification?

 

[filhodeinferno]

ok so i just got a change in my status , i interviewed last week and they put me on hold. I am a bit confused is this a bad thing? especially because it is so soon?

We must have interviewed on the same day, and I got the same news...and I am ALSO confused about the significance of this. I am just assuming that it means that we weren't rejected and they'll let us know on December 15th...or does it mean we are on the waitlist?

 

[COdoubleMO2theN]

ok so i just got a change in my status , i interviewed last week and they put me on hold. I am a bit confused is this a bad thing? especially because it is so soon?

We must have interviewed on the same day, and I got the same news...and I am ALSO confused about the significance of this. I am just assuming that it means that we weren't rejected and they'll let us know on December 15th...or does it mean we are on the waitlist?

Would either of you like to share which day last week? Or at least if it was early in the week or later? I interviewed last week, but no update here except for the survey.

 

[iramla]

what about for someone who had an interview three weeks ago and haven't gotten an update or survey?

 

[CantWinThemAll]

what about for someone who had an interview three weeks ago and haven't gotten an update or survey?

im in the same situation. i was wondering if it was only me

 

[iramla]

im in the same situation. i was wondering if it was only me

meh... we'll see what happens. comfort in numbers anyway...

 

[hollaback33]

I interviewed two weeks ago, got the survey a week ago, and just got put on hold today. Does this mean I won't get the post-interview rejection until next year if I don't hear anything sooner? Anyone else with me on this round of updates?

 

[reidmike]

Do I still have a shot at an interview (without an automatic waitlist) if I have had the #2 status for about a month?

 

[utah3219]

.

 

[filhodeinferno]

Would either of you like to share which day last week? Or at least if it was early in the week or later? I interviewed last week, but no update here except for the survey.

It was Monday, Nov. 2nd. I did get a survey as well.

 

[filhodeinferno]

Please read through the entire thread before you post these questions.

Everyone post-interview will eventually go on hold until their release dates in December, Feb, March...

Unless of course you don't have a chance at waitlist or acceptance then they will not hesitate to reject. At this point, no news is better.

Very helpful. So no news is better, unless you get a hold status, which means you're not rejected but on track to get your answer on one of the next acceptance dates.

 

[reveille16]

So I am thinking about making a big post with a lot of the information that everyone wants answers to (e.g. what the pre-interview status updates mean, what the post-interview hold means, etc.). I would break this post up into Pre-interview information, Post-interview information, and Post-acceptance information. Then I would post this every so often to help eliminate repeated questions. I don't have anything against these questions since I understand that scrolling through all of the old posts can be time consuming, but I think it might help. What is everyone's opinion on this? Please let me know on this thread or through PM. I'm a big boy, so I won't be the least bit insulted if this isn't a good idea. I just thought it might help.

 

[OneMCATAway]

So I am thinking about making a big post with a lot of the information that everyone wants answers to (e.g. what the pre-interview status updates mean, what the post-interview hold means, etc.). I would break this post up into Pre-interview information, Post-interview information, and Post-acceptance information. Then I would post this every so often to help eliminate repeated questions. I don't have anything against these questions since I understand that scrolling through all of the old posts can be time consuming, but I think it might help. What is everyone's opinion on this? Please let me know on this thread or through PM. I'm a big boy, so I won't be the least bit insulted if this isn't a good idea. I just thought it might help.

go for it if you have time 🙂 then we can all quote it when someone has a question about it.. if you can time it right after one or two post we go to a new page it would be nice and clear on top of the page 😀 or we can make it a collaboration if you'd like 👍

 

[lawdoc]

Just got an interview request today. AMCAS verified on Oct 22, secondary complete Nov 5, interview request Nov 13. Just wanted to pass this along to give hope to any other late applicants like me who might be on this board. I even got an interview date for next Tuesday, the 17! I'm pumped... this is my first interview and the school I really want to go to. Sure takes the bite out of being laid off today!

 

[needcpr]

I think VCU forgot I was #1 status. 8 weeks and counting....