* * 2010 - 2011 * * Secondary Applications Thread

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noshie said:
I just got my first MD secondary! Wow, that was faster than I thought... Now I need to find the MD secondary thread... Anyone know where that is? Or is this only done by specific schools?
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I think its done by specific schools. Not cool. What MD secondary did you get? I was expecting to wind up with the schools that didn't screen either today or Monday but haven't heard anything back today so it doesn't look like I'll be getting them. Spent today writing my CCOM essays, going to have someone read over them tonight and mail that out. Done with the LECOMs. Probably going to have to wait until Monday to get to work on UMDNJ (or at least submit it) I'm up visiting my GF for the weekend so I doubt I'll get any work done after she gets off work today unless I stay up late after she goes to sleep. Still SUPER early in the cycle and I've already got my LORs ready to be sent so I'll still be complete way before most applicants if I get them done next week, not worried :laugh:
 
Working on UMDNJ's secondary now. I have a similar essay from last year so I'm just making some modifications (I didn't apply here last year). Is everyone else only writing 1 single page essay which answers both questions? It seems like that is what they are asking for when it says, "Please complete your essay and include your responses to the following questions". Also, are you guys only answering those questions or are you making it almost another personal statement?
 
DbDan said:
Working on UMDNJ's secondary now. I have a similar essay from last year so I'm just making some modifications (I didn't apply here last year). Is everyone else only writing 1 single page essay which answers both questions? It seems like that is what they are asking for when it says, "Please complete your essay and include your responses to the following questions". Also, are you guys only answering those questions or are you making it almost another personal statement?
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I got the MD secondary from St. Louis University... That’s the only one I got, $100 too! Eeek!

I write my essays for secondaries completely from what I feel when I am answering them. I used to sit on essays for a while, writing, obsessing and making them perfect. But it was a waste of time... Now I just write, proof and submit. I get secondaries done in like an hour or less. 😛 I know, I’m awesome. Hehehehe. Well... We will see if this tactic works later in the cycle if I get interviews...
 
noshie said:
I got the MD secondary from St. Louis University... That's the only one I got, $100 too! Eeek!

I write my essays for secondaries completely from what I feel when I am answering them. I used to sit on essays for a while, writing, obsessing and making them perfect. But it was a waste of time... Now I just write, proof and submit. I get secondaries done in like an hour or less. 😛 I know, I'm awesome. Hehehehe. Well... We will see if this tactic works later in the cycle if I get interviews...
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I'm using a similar tactic. I'm letting someone else proof them though and telling them that I'm not going to be obsessing. Basically I want them to proof for grammatical mistakes, etc. I spent last year completely obsessing over every single essay and it took me weeks to submit them. This time I'm going for a couple day turnaround at the most.

I didn't apply to SLU this year, I tried last year though. SLU's essays weren't too bad last year, just a gap year essay and an "anything else you want us to know" essay. I wrote about my working and then reasoning for my GPA being low. 100 fee sucked though (not as bad as GWU and Georgetown's 125 though!) Any reason you didn't apply to EVMS, VCU, GWU? just because of sheer # of schools? We kinda similar school lists except for all the texas schools that I wish I could apply to but being a non-resident I'd get thrown right out :laugh:
 
traitorman said:
i should probably do that too. im curious to their response
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They said it was probably because my MCAT scores have not been received by AACOMAS. Which is BS because I sent them in early May to AACOMAS and all of my download-able .pdf application files for each school (including RVUCOMs) have my MCAT scores in them.

The only major issue with my app right now is that AACOMAS didn't put in my gGPA properly, which I called to have them fix today, but my uGPA was still above the 2.5 cutoff without it so I am still confused as to why I got that email. I will talk to them on Tuesday when I call to make sure they get my newly updated application when it is re-released, so we'll see 🙂
 
sedaniel said:
They said it was probably because my MCAT scores have not been received by AACOMAS. Which is BS because I sent them in early May to AACOMAS and all of my download-able .pdf application files for each school (including RVUCOMs) have my MCAT scores in them.
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Not to double post or anything, but it looks like this is going on in a few threads at once...

I got the same email from RVU. I've been in touch with them and they said that they are having a problem of some sort but will send secondary invites out soon (they said this evening but the evening is wearing thin...)
 
Just received AZCOM's secondary email. 🙂 Finally!!

At first my heart pretty much dropped because the first sentence sounded like a "thanks but no thanks" email. But then it got better.

I'm so glad I'm finally getting some secondaries. Still waiting on DMU, NSU, and Touro-NV.
 
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Just received the AZCOM secondary and the essays are basically the same as CCOM except why AZCOM. Are you guys using the same essays?
 
DbDan said:
I'm using a similar tactic. I'm letting someone else proof them though and telling them that I'm not going to be obsessing. Basically I want them to proof for grammatical mistakes, etc. I spent last year completely obsessing over every single essay and it took me weeks to submit them. This time I'm going for a couple day turnaround at the most.

I didn't apply to SLU this year, I tried last year though. SLU's essays weren't too bad last year, just a gap year essay and an "anything else you want us to know" essay. I wrote about my working and then reasoning for my GPA being low. 100 fee sucked though (not as bad as GWU and Georgetown's 125 though!) Any reason you didn't apply to EVMS, VCU, GWU? just because of sheer # of schools? We kinda similar school lists except for all the texas schools that I wish I could apply to but being a non-resident I'd get thrown right out :laugh:
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I thought I applied to GWU and VCU... Didn't I? Check my MDapps... The MD school abbreviations are confusing for me. AMCAS is a new thing for me this year, I have very little knowledge about MD schools outside of Texas. It's a weakness... Anyways, I picked my MD schools based on some serious statistics that I did with the MSAR book. It took me like a month to narrow it down to 20 schools. I kept going back and forth. Too many choices! Not sure if I made the right choices... Some of the things I looked at was how research based they were, how many people they accept with graduate degrees, what their interview rate and acceptance rate was with OOS applicants, and if they were private or public... What do think of my list, should I have added other schools?

Don't be discouraged on applying to Texas... 🙂 It's basically the cheapest application ever, and most secondaries are free. I think with your experience you may have a shot. Even if you get one interview it's worth it. Everyone says its a waste, but I think since so few apply, there may be a fair chance...

FutureDoc1988 said:
Just received the AZCOM secondary and the essays are basically the same as CCOM except why AZCOM. Are you guys using the same essays?
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I got mine too! I'm using the same essays... In the past these schools were pretty separate. Still not sure if this is a bad idea... Anyone?
 
People who have applied before, is being complete by like July 16th early, average, or late?



[EDIT]And do schools ever start reviewing secondaries before recs are in?
 
Got VCOM's today that said I was short 1 science credit hour (I have 5 of the 6 for BCHM), but they'd happily still take my money I guess 🙂

I really hope that I can use my Health Professions pass/fail 1 credit hour class for that or that's 50 dollars gone 🙁
 
noshie said:
I thought I applied to GWU and VCU... Didn’t I? Check my MDapps... The MD school abbreviations are confusing for me. AMCAS is a new thing for me this year, I have very little knowledge about MD schools outside of Texas. It’s a weakness... Anyways, I picked my MD schools based on some serious statistics that I did with the MSAR book. It took me like a month to narrow it down to 20 schools. I kept going back and forth. Too many choices! Not sure if I made the right choices... Some of the things I looked at was how research based they were, how many people they accept with graduate degrees, what their interview rate and acceptance rate was with OOS applicants, and if they were private or public... What do think of my list, should I have added other schools?

Don't be discouraged on applying to Texas... 🙂 It's basically the cheapest application ever, and most secondaries are free. I think with your experience you may have a shot. Even if you get one interview it's worth it. Everyone says its a waste, but I think since so few apply, there may be a fair chance...



I got mine too! I’m using the same essays... In the past these schools were pretty separate. Still not sure if this is a bad idea... Anyone?
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VCU and GWU are Viriginia Commonwealth and George Washington, EVMS is Eastern Viriginia. I didn't see any of the 3 on your list. I know for me (with low stats) those were 3 of the big ones I was always told to give a shot and also the ones that the famous school selector spreadsheet said I had an outside shot at. Picking schools is rough though, I definitely understand where you are coming from.
 
FutureDoc1988 said:
Just received the AZCOM secondary and the essays are basically the same as CCOM except why AZCOM. Are you guys using the same essays?
Click to expand...

Using the same 2nd essay, modifying the first slightly. I still haven't gotten AZCOM's secondary though. Sad.
 
sedaniel said:
They said it was probably because my MCAT scores have not been received by AACOMAS. Which is BS because I sent them in early May to AACOMAS and all of my download-able .pdf application files for each school (including RVUCOMs) have my MCAT scores in them.

The only major issue with my app right now is that AACOMAS didn't put in my gGPA properly, which I called to have them fix today, but my uGPA was still above the 2.5 cutoff without it so I am still confused as to why I got that email. I will talk to them on Tuesday when I call to make sure they get my newly updated application when it is re-released, so we'll see 🙂
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just checked my email and received an email to complete the supplemental application from RVUCOM. haha im confused now. ill have to give them a call. i definitely dont want to pay the secondary if i apparently dont meet the minimum requirements
 
traitorman said:
just checked my email and received an email to complete the supplemental application from RVUCOM. haha im confused now. ill have to give them a call. i definitely dont want to pay the secondary if i apparently dont meet the minimum requirements
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I finally got a secondary from them too. IamaBanana posted a few posts before this that they'd had some issues and they must have been working on it yesterday because I got mine pretty late (although the time difference makes it not too late for them lol). I'm pretty sure it is a legit secondary, so I'm starting to fill mine out.
 
sedaniel said:
I finally got a secondary from them too. IamaBanana posted a few posts before this that they'd had some issues and they must have been working on it yesterday because I got mine pretty late (although the time difference makes it not too late for them lol). I'm pretty sure it is a legit secondary, so I'm starting to fill mine out.
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ahh thats good to hear. i was already thinking how much of a bummer it was to already be rejected and the other chance other schools mite do the same if RVUCOM did.

gonna have to work on it later tho. i got my hands full with CCOM and the 10 page VCOM app. i always hate the "what are your qualities" type of questions
 
traitorman said:
ahh thats good to hear. i was already thinking how much of a bummer it was to already be rejected and the other chance other schools mite do the same if RVUCOM did.

gonna have to work on it later tho. i got my hands full with CCOM and the 10 page VCOM app. i always hate the "what are your qualities" type of questions
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Ya, I'm putting a lot of work into CCOMs because it's my top choice 😀 The 1500 character limit is killing me though, I really want to write more lol
 
sedaniel said:
Ya, I'm putting a lot of work into CCOMs because it's my top choice 😀 The 1500 character limit is killing me though, I really want to write more lol
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in terms of the 1500 limit, i feel the same way on the 1st question. not so much on the second one :help:
 
Finally caught up with all the secondaries. 7 out of 15 done. I am going to be so glad once I am finished.
 
1/21 allo done (I guess there's only a few schools who even started sending them out yesterday. boo)
4/14 osteo done (received 6 so far)

I just want to get this ovvvvver with so I can enjoy my summer lol
 
dekiru said:
When did you get verified from AACOMAS? I was verified on 6/23 and have been wondering how many weeks do I have to wait until I get any DO secondaries.... =/
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I submitted AACOMAS on 6/11, was verified 6/22, and started getting secondaries 6/24.
 
yea ive been trying to send in my secondaries ASAP and ive received like 8 secondaries in a span of 2-3 days = $$$$$$$

question about CCOM. I was about to send mine in when under ethnicities, I noticed it says "two or more." I'm looking to change my ethnicity but i dont see anywhere I can change it. anyone know how?
 
anybody have second thoughts about completing certain secondaries?
 
traitorman said:
yea ive been trying to send in my secondaries ASAP and ive received like 8 secondaries in a span of 2-3 days = $$$$$$$

question about CCOM. I was about to send mine in when under ethnicities, I noticed it says "two or more." I'm looking to change my ethnicity but i dont see anywhere I can change it. anyone know how?
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Same problem with the ethnicity here.
 
azrk said:
Same problem with the ethnicity here.
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I'm ready to submit it, but I don't know if I should wait til tomorrow to call them about it. It's probably not even a big deal, but i dunno. tryin to get these secondaries in ASAP
 
HockeyDr09 said:
Yeah, i'm not filling out the MSU one. That's the only one so far.
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im having second thoughts about filling out VCOMs just because I think my chances are already slim that im from NJ, and dont really have a lot of rural experience. with costs starting to pile up, i feel like i would just be throwing my money away. guess i really should have thought about it before applying
 
HockeyDr09 said:
Yeah, i'm not filling out the MSU one. That's the only one so far.
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how come? i'm thinking about adding this school but i'm curious to know why you're no longer interested in it.
 
SNS said:
how come? i'm thinking about adding this school but i'm curious to know why you're no longer interested in it.
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http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=740430

That thread was started and I posted why I no longer wanted to apply. If you're from Michigan or don't mind the tuition (someone said out of state gets a scholarship), then you might love it there. If you think you may be interested you should apply, who knows you might love it.

edit: After reading through that thread again it's pretty harsh on MSUCOM, i'm sure if you spoke to people that actually went there they would tell you it's great.
 
traitorman said:
I'm ready to submit it, but I don't know if I should wait til tomorrow to call them about it. It's probably not even a big deal, but i dunno. tryin to get these secondaries in ASAP
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Im waiting till Monday. Although it may not be a big deal it is still incorrect, so I am not taking any chances.
 
u dont think we re being a little bit too paranoid? i noticed that for me too, and i spent about 5 minutes trying to change it but then just gave up... i figured it was more important just to submit it, rather than worry abut the ethnicity box
 
hopeinternist said:
u dont think we re being a little bit too paranoid? i noticed that for me too, and i spent about 5 minutes trying to change it but then just gave up... i figured it was more important just to submit it, rather than worry abut the ethnicity box
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haha thats exactly what I was thinking. i think im at the point where im worried about every little thing on my applications messing up my chances
 
hopeinternist said:
u dont think we re being a little bit too paranoid? i noticed that for me too, and i spent about 5 minutes trying to change it but then just gave up... i figured it was more important just to submit it, rather than worry abut the ethnicity box
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I was going to but the statement at the bottom really scared me:

"I verify that all information contained in this application is factually correct and complete. I understand that the misrepresentation or omission of application information is sufficient grounds for canceling my admission or registration."
 
jzrull said:
So the lady I spoke with was pretty up to date with MSU happenings. The way she spoke with me made me wonder how much discussion they have with our colleges that we don't really know about. So in my case, she said that it was fine just to send the letters in without contacting them again. I'll probably end up calling and just reiterating what I already told them though, and what they told me, haha. I feel like a lot of schools are a bit more lenient when it comes to letters than they come off in print. A huge generalization, right there.
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Uh yeah ... I went to Arizona State ... we're definitely too big to have a pre-med committee. There are way way too many people. I didn't apply to PCOM last year for this reason. I think Michigan State's DO school also has the same LOR requirement.
 
so no mcat score yet(taking it end of july)... so far i am only eligible to do the LECOM secondaries. pretty much the rest of the schools i apply to screen their applicants prior to sending out secondaries, wvsom, pcsom, touro-ny, vcom-cc. nycom's is open after july.. pcom dunno. since they won't get it until end of august, i feel a little late in the game but i hope they send me secondaries asap too!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =)
 
melissaliss said:
Uh yeah ... I went to Arizona State ... we're definitely too big to have a pre-med committee. There are way way too many people. I didn't apply to PCOM last year for this reason. I think Michigan State's DO school also has the same LOR requirement.
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Well at least your school is smart enough to not have a committee if there are too many people. My school has a committee, but because of the large number of people using them, they told us our letters might not get sent til October....fml.

I am complete pending the committee letter at 6 schools as of now. However, I might as well not have even bothered rushing and getting everything turned in so early, because it looks like I'm going to be waiting for quite some time anyway. Awesome
 
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I'm in a similar situation. It will be at least a month if not longer for my letter. I went ahead and sent some additional letters ( I asked schools first). I don't know if it will help, but it is frustrating that I have done everything I can do and being "complete" is not in my immediate control.

Guess the only thing left to do is hurry up and wait!
 
PeachyPhd said:
I'm in a similar situation. It will be at least a month if not longer for my letter. I went ahead and sent some additional letters ( I asked schools first). I don't know if it will help, but it is frustrating that I have done everything I can do and being "complete" is not in my immediate control.

Guess the only thing left to do is hurry up and wait!
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why don't u guys just go the 2 science professor route, might be faster and in the long run
 
gatewasani said:
why don't u guys just go the 2 science professor route, might be faster and in the long run
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Yeah I thought about that, and it really probably would be faster, but there still is a chance my committee could send the letter sometime in July...just depends on where you are in the pecking order. October is more likely though.

I've got my fingers crossed :xf:
 
I'm kind of doing both. I went ahead and sent LORs from a couple of sciences profs, but will also have the committee letter sent when it's ready. I've spoke to a couple people in authority from adcoms, etc and they've said they would prefer to see a committee letter if available-not having one can sometimes draw suspicion (if your school has a pre-health service and you don't use it). Maybe that's not true, bit I'd rather err on the side of caution.
 
question about the VCOM secondary regarding the essay on health care. there is so much to write but did u guys just focus on one aspect? did u start with a general statement along the lines of "there is so many problems, but based on my experiences, i have found xxxx to be important in health care reform" and then just go on to talk about that?
 
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