2009-2010 Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Application Thread

[alibai3ah]

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So, I know there are the standard 5 messages, and then there's the sub-committee message, right? Did anyone decide whether the sub-committee message is good or bad in comparison? Because I signed on tonight and that's what I got. Hmmm... this school is one of my top choices.

I don't think there are any "good" messages unless it's the VERY INTERESTED one..... I believe the sub-committee one just means that the initial revieweres couldn't make up their mind, so it got sent to another group.

 

[OpalOnyx]

thanks for the helpful info!

would anyone mind posting the sub-committee message?? and how do you find out your priority (say between #2 and #3 - the "may"s), does it say so in the status update (mine did not...)

 

[FutureDocWRX]

This statistic is way too generous. They interview 800 people/2600 or so secondaries submitted (I'm assuming 50% screened out). That's more like a 30% chance of being interviewed....

Where did you get the number of secondaries submitted?

 

[mvenus929]

thanks for the helpful info!

would anyone mind posting the sub-committee message?? and how do you find out your priority (say between #2 and #3 - the "may"s), does it say so in the status update (mine did not...)

You don't know your priority score. We're basing the priority on the status message... I believe the consensus is that 'further' is better than 'may' when reading your status message.

 

[k7i5t3n]

#1 - you are interviewed
#2/3 - may be interviewed (still not sure how they are different or which is better)
#4 - subcommitee message
#5 - rejection.

thats basically it. 1 is the best 5 worst. Apparently #4 means that the adcom was unable to assign a prioirty score to you and they will further review...personally i doubt its good but its not a rejection, it may turn into a #2 or #3 later after further review. If you got, just dont worry becuase nothing you can do. Hope the committee finds more merit in your app when you get multiple opinions.

Alright, I guess I'll have to accept 'not very good' chances then and keep my fingers crossed that the next guy who reads it likes it. Thanks for the input. ~

 

[alibai3ah]

Where did you get the number of secondaries submitted?

I was just guessing that 50% of the applications are screened out. So that leaves around 2800 or so with some students. Again I was just speculating, but I am certain is not as high as 60%

 

[FutureDocWRX]

I was just guessing that 50% of the applications are screened out. So that leaves around 2800 or so with some students. Again I was just speculating, but I am certain is not as high as 60%

ya, that 60% number sounds a bit high. I wonder what the actual percentage of people that receive the secondary is.

 

[xcrunner01]

.

 

[alibai3ah]

For people getting the status updates and are as confused as I was.... Here are the different messages (in no particular order)

Application Status



"The Committee's file review indicates that they are very interested in your candidacy. There is another increase in the applicant pool this year, but we are trying to get all candidates at your priority score interviewed as soon as possible. Please watch for an e-mail from us regarding a possible interview date."

"The committee's file review indicates that they are interested in your candidacy. However, due to the increase in the applicant pool this year, it is clear we MAY be unable to interview all the candidates at your priority score. If we do find that we are able to grant an interview you will be notified by e-mail."

"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."

"The committee's file review indicates that they wish to consider your file over the next several weeks before making a decision about interview. Since they have some reservations about granting an interview, your file will be reviewed again by a small sub-committee before making a final decision. Please continue to check this site to learn when further action has been taken."

"REJECTED"

 

[LOSAR]

i just got the go ahead to submit the secondary for this school...kinda weird that there have already been rejections and i'm just starting out on this secondary.

 

[OneMCATAway]

did anyone here get the very interested #1 status update so far?!

 

[Appless]

did anyone here get the very interested #1 status update so far?!

i remember one person getting it early on 🙂.

 

[Ilovewater]

did anyone here get the very interested #1 status update so far?!

I did about 1 week ago. Still haven't received the interview invite though. ::Cross fingers::

 

[OneMCATAway]

I did about 1 week ago. Still haven't received the interview invite though. ::Cross fingers::

thats awesome! hopefully it will be soon

i dont think the oos-ers received any interviews yet!!

 

[OpalOnyx]

For people getting the status updates and are as confused as I was.... Here are the different messages (in no particular order)

Application Status



"The Committee's file review indicates that they are very interested in your candidacy. There is another increase in the applicant pool this year, but we are trying to get all candidates at your priority score interviewed as soon as possible. Please watch for an e-mail from us regarding a possible interview date."

"The committee's file review indicates that they are interested in your candidacy. However, due to the increase in the applicant pool this year, it is clear we MAY be unable to interview all the candidates at your priority score. If we do find that we are able to grant an interview you will be notified by e-mail."

"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."

"The committee's file review indicates that they wish to consider your file over the next several weeks before making a decision about interview. Since they have some reservations about granting an interview, your file will be reviewed again by a small sub-committee before making a final decision. Please continue to check this site to learn when further action has been taken."

"REJECTED"

thanks this is super-helpful 👍

 

[medslacker]

My friend got a status update that said "very interested" a couple weeks ago, and he was given an interview invite soon after. It was weird because I didnt get a status update message saying they were interested in my application, but just a status update that was an interview invite about a week or so ago. We're both instate by the way. Good Luck guys.

 

[reneerain]

I just logged in to check the status of my application and it says it's complete. How can that be, since it will still take 15 days until my MCAT scores are out.

I wrote in the AMCAS application that I will be taking the MCAT in July, but on the VCU secondary I don't remember them asking if they should wait for updated MCAT scores.

What now?

 

[OneMCATAway]

I just logged in to check the status of my application and it says it's complete. How can that be, since it will still take 15 days until my MCAT scores are out.

I wrote in the AMCAS application that I will be taking the MCAT in July, but on the VCU secondary I don't remember them asking if they should wait for updated MCAT scores.

What now?

i think their complete means they got your secondary and LOR's they'll probably wait for the mcat once they see that its pending 🙂

 

[reneerain]

i think their complete means they got your secondary and LOR's they'll probably wait for the mcat once they see that its pending 🙂

Oh, OK, that would make sense then.... I hope you are right 🙂
Thank you 🙂

 

[themanthony]

submitted amcas early june... took mcat early july and got scores last week. decided to retake (didn't bomb it however) and still haven't received a secondary. i'm in state and i know they screen but i would have thought i'd at least receive a secondary. think i'm just on a perpetual mcat hold until my second scores get back? it's hard to know since i've been on an mcat hold the whole time...

 

[Legacy87]

Got the interview invite today! OOS. I got the "may" email last sunday and I got the status today stating the following:

The Admissions Committee review of your file indicates that they are interested in scheduling you for an interview. You now have access to the Interview Scheduling program. Please click on the button at the top of the page for Interview Scheduling. You will see the dates and times that are currently available for interview. Keep in mind that once you schedule, your name will appear on the interviewer's calendar so you should be certain that you will be able to attend on the date you select. This is a live, interactive system and it is possible that you will decide on a date and someone else will be online at the same time and select that date and time before you complete your process. In that case, the system will tell you that it is no longer available and will ask you to select another date and time.

You have seven days to schedule your interview from the time you received e-mail notification regarding this change in application status. A reminder message will be sent to you two days prior to interview scheduling deadline. Failure to schedule your interview before the deadline will result in withdrawal of your application.

We look forward to seeing you here on interview day. More details with directions, schedule for the day etc. will be available to you after you have selected your interview date and time.

 

[derArzt]

...still nothing! Complete for awhile now..

 

[alibai3ah]

Got the interview invite today! OOS. I got the "may" email last sunday and I got the status today stating the following:

The Admissions Committee review of your file indicates that they are interested in scheduling you for an interview. You now have access to the Interview Scheduling program. Please click on the button at the top of the page for Interview Scheduling. You will see the dates and times that are currently available for interview. Keep in mind that once you schedule, your name will appear on the interviewer's calendar so you should be certain that you will be able to attend on the date you select. This is a live, interactive system and it is possible that you will decide on a date and someone else will be online at the same time and select that date and time before you complete your process. In that case, the system will tell you that it is no longer available and will ask you to select another date and time.

You have seven days to schedule your interview from the time you received e-mail notification regarding this change in application status. A reminder message will be sent to you two days prior to interview scheduling deadline. Failure to schedule your interview before the deadline will result in withdrawal of your application.

We look forward to seeing you here on interview day. More details with directions, schedule for the day etc. will be available to you after you have selected your interview date and time.

Oh nice to hear the "may" message has some positive outcome! I'll keep praying....

 

[OneMCATAway]

Got the interview invite today! OOS. I got the "may" email last sunday and I got the status today stating the following:

The Admissions Committee review of your file indicates that they are interested in scheduling you for an interview. You now have access to the Interview Scheduling program. Please click on the button at the top of the page for Interview Scheduling. You will see the dates and times that are currently available for interview. Keep in mind that once you schedule, your name will appear on the interviewer's calendar so you should be certain that you will be able to attend on the date you select. This is a live, interactive system and it is possible that you will decide on a date and someone else will be online at the same time and select that date and time before you complete your process. In that case, the system will tell you that it is no longer available and will ask you to select another date and time.

You have seven days to schedule your interview from the time you received e-mail notification regarding this change in application status. A reminder message will be sent to you two days prior to interview scheduling deadline. Failure to schedule your interview before the deadline will result in withdrawal of your application.

We look forward to seeing you here on interview day. More details with directions, schedule for the day etc. will be available to you after you have selected your interview date and time.

this is so awesome congratsss 🙂

how early do people get acceptances here after the interview?!

 

[OneMCATAway]

...still nothing! Complete for awhile now..

dont worry it will come soon, they seem to send out the rejections faster so no news is pretty much good news everywhere 🙂

 

[Ilovewater]

WOOHOO! First interview, OOS. If you wanna know my stats or the dates, check out my MDApps.

SO EXCITED!

 

[ellajane]

interview invite!! OOS. got the "may" message 7/27.

so excited!

 

[wt45]

interview! got the "may" message in late july. so excited!

 

[Ilovewater]

interview invite!! OOS. got the "may" message 7/27.

so excited!

interview! got the "may" message in late july. so excited!

Congrats, guys! =]

Are you guys planning to stay with student hosts? I clicked on the student host link, and nothing was there. Do you have the same problem?

 

[scooter02]

...still nothing! Complete for awhile now..

Still nothing for me either, complete since mid-July 🙁

 

[wt45]

Congrats, guys! =]

Are you guys planning to stay with student hosts? I clicked on the student host link, and nothing was there. Do you have the same problem?

thanks, ilovewater! yea, there is no info on student hosts for me as well.

 

[ruiner]

Still nothing for me either, complete since mid-July 🙁

Me too. But OOS is getting invites now, maybe (hopefully!) good?

 

[OneMCATAway]

wow nice to see all the interview invites! congrats ya'll 🙂

did anyone with the "may" msg also have it end in notified via email in march?

 

[wt45]

wow nice to see all the interview invites! congrats ya'll 🙂

did anyone with the "may" msg also have it end in notified via email in march?

yea, mine said that. i was totally surprised that i got an e-mail update so soon.

 

[ellajane]

wow nice to see all the interview invites! congrats ya'll 🙂

did anyone with the "may" msg also have it end in notified via email in march?

yep. the "in march" threw me off, but apparently, it doesn't mean anything.

 

[KiraArgounova]

So it sounds like for OOSers it takes a few weeks at least to get the interview invite? How long did it take you all to be marked complete and under review? It took them almost 2 weeks to mark me with the complete/review status, and that was only a few days ago, so I think I have a lot of waiting ahead still... 🙁

 

[alibai3ah]

yep. the "in march" threw me off, but apparently, it doesn't mean anything.

The "in march" part could just be so that neurotic pre-meds don't call them incessantly to check....

 

[alibai3ah]

So it sounds like for OOSers it takes a few weeks at least to get the interview invite? How long did it take you all to be marked complete and under review? It took them almost 2 weeks to mark me with the complete/review status, and that was only a few days ago, so I think I have a lot of waiting ahead still... 🙁

Not necessarily, it's random. I was complete on the 23rd and received my status update on the 2nd (only 9 days).

 

[IndigoBoy0]

i think their complete means they got your secondary and LOR's they'll probably wait for the mcat once they see that its pending 🙂

Nope - they don't have to. I spoke with the Director of Admissions. They said you can be rejected even with pending MCAT retakes. They said they don't truly "open" your file until you pass an initial review and they can review you based on other factors alone besides MCAT. I was told this, and told by them I was rejected because even if I had a much higher MCAT it wouldn't compensate for the other problems with my file. Basically they knew this beforehand but still screened me in and made me pay 85...

 

[twostep376]

Not necessarily, it's random. I was complete on the 23rd and received my status update on the 2nd (only 9 days).

I was complete on 7/20 and still no update.

 

[alibai3ah]

Nope - they don't have to. I spoke with the Director of Admissions. They said you can be rejected even with pending MCAT retakes. They said they don't truly "open" your file until you pass an initial review and they can review you based on other factors alone besides MCAT. I was told this, and told by them I was rejected because even if I had a much higher MCAT it wouldn't compensate for the other problems with my file. Basically they knew this beforehand but still screened me in and made me pay 85...

That's horrible, I'm sorry to hear that. Did they at least tell you things that you could work on to improve or what the specific problems were?

To the post above, I think the status updates are random. I really wouldn't worry, b/c the people they want to reject, they seem to be rejecting without any hesitation....

 

[KiraArgounova]

Not necessarily, it's random. I was complete on the 23rd and received my status update on the 2nd (only 9 days).

Ah, well that's encouraging! Thanks!

 

[mvenus929]

...still nothing! Complete for awhile now..

I was complete over a month ago, and I haven't gotten any sort of status update yet.

 

[alibai3ah]

I was complete over a month ago, and I haven't gotten any sort of status update yet.

If it's any consolation, I think when they invite people for interviews (depending on ur status), they do it based on completion dates...

 

[mvenus929]

If it's any consolation, I think when they invite people for interviews (depending on ur status), they do it based on completion dates...

Not much consolation when OOS students are already getting invites and I'm still without a status update. Especially since people who were complete after me have gotten updates.

This process makes me neurotic.

 

[ruiner]

Not much consolation when OOS students are already getting invites and I'm still without a status update. Especially since people who were complete after me have gotten updates.

This process makes me neurotic.

Rest assured that you arn't alone so don't worry too much about it.

 

[266202]

Just got the "MAY" status.

Complete 7/20

 

[OpalOnyx]

Rest assured that you arn't alone so don't worry too much about it.

Today, I got two things in the mail (neither from VCU). One was a rejection letter from a school I really wanted to interview at, another was an interview invite at a school that I hadn't dwelled on as much. BUT I'm now excited about this interview and not focusing on the rejection.

Just an example of how when one door closes, another opens. 🙂

Sometimes, the two letters just happen to arrive at the same time haha And thank goodness for that.

G'luck everyone 👍

and I'm also still a "may" at VCU

 

[YBFdoctor]

I just got screened in for the VCU secondary but it seems like everyone on this thread also got the invite to fill out the secondary. My question is, is it a big deal to get screened in? Was there anyone that got screened out? (Please don't be afraid to speak up!!) Do I actually have a chance at this school? I'm just wondering cause my stats are pretty low (by SDN standards) and I'm also OOS.

 

[ruiner]

Today, I got two things in the mail (neither from VCU). One was a rejection letter from a school I really wanted to interview at, another was an interview invite at a school that I hadn't dwelled on as much. BUT I'm now excited about this interview and not focusing on the rejection.

Just an example of how when one door closes, another opens. 🙂

Sometimes, the two letters just happen to arrive at the same time haha And thank goodness for that.

G'luck everyone 👍

and I'm also still a "may" at VCU

I just want to hear something from any of the schools I applied to haha. But the majority havn't even started interviewing much yet if at all so it's ok. Congrats on the interview!