2010-2011 Southern Illinois University Application Thread

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I have a question for current SIU students/Springfield residents/other applicants: does Springfield tend to give off a bad impression that later gets changed?

I'm asking in case I get on AWPA next week, I'll have some fast decisions to make. I got a terrible impression of the city. It felt like a dingy small town, despite having 100,000+ people in it. I also didn't get a terribly enthusiastic feel from the students on my interview day ("oh... i went here because it's cheap" kind of feeling).

I mean no offense, I realize first impressions can be and often are dead wrong. I'm especially bad at them, so I was hoping for some insight from people who may feel/know otherwise.
 
Donnie1310 said:
I have a question for current SIU students/Springfield residents/other applicants: does Springfield tend to give off a bad impression that later gets changed?

I'm asking in case I get on AWPA next week, I'll have some fast decisions to make. I got a terrible impression of the city. It felt like a dingy small town, despite having 100,000+ people in it. I also didn't get a terribly enthusiastic feel from the students on my interview day ("oh... i went here because it's cheap" kind of feeling).

I mean no offense, I realize first impressions can be and often are dead wrong. I'm especially bad at them, so I was hoping for some insight from people who may feel/know otherwise.
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Eh...I don't think Springfield has much room to "grow" on anyone. The vast majority of its residents work for the state government so they have no choice but to live there. The next largest employers are the hospitals and not far down from the list is SIU SOM. Without many (any) booming industries in the city, it's not likely to grow into a bustling city anytime soon.

With that being said, medicine is a huge part of the city's core so it will be a fine place to study and practice. Memorial Medical Center will be getting the more challenging and interesting cases from around the area and it is also the area's only level 1 trauma center. So for medicine it's good. Entertainment and culture, not so much.
 
MMC does not have the trauma center this year. They and Saints share hosting it. It is part of SIU.

Private sector > public even if public is largest single employer

I grew up here so it is home. There isn't anything really unique about it but that is true of 99.999% of cities in the US. Its a little over an hour from StL, and a couple from Chicago. You can take a train to either for the weekend for cheap.

Spfld is quiet and because medicine is such a big part of the city it is a medically-friendly area (for the most part).
 
Salvy1293 said:
Anyone know if there is a facebook group or forum for accepted class of 2015 students for SIU yet? It may be a bit early for this but I haven't been able to find anything.
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Not yet. The school WILL create one eventually, but you can create your own (that is what I did, and we used it for pre-schooling party planning that we didnt want the staff to see). I'll join it whenever you make it and try to answer questions there. This class will probably hear from me a lot next year.
 
For those of you on the AWPA list, the last batch of acceptances will be sent the week of the 28th. They will take calls on AWPA position beginning the
week of April 4 for those who were not accepted in the third batch. Good luck to everyone and congratulations to those already accepted!
 
sareeb1 said:
For those of you on the AWPA list, the last batch of acceptances will be sent the week of the 28th. They will take calls on AWPA position beginning the
week of April 4 for those who were not accepted in the third batch. Good luck to everyone and congratulations to those already accepted!
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Thanks for the info.
 
sareeb1 said:
For those of you on the AWPA list, the last batch of acceptances will be sent the week of the 28th. They will take calls on AWPA position beginning the
week of April 4 for those who were not accepted in the third batch. Good luck to everyone and congratulations to those already accepted!
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fingers crossed :xf:
 
I have good news for those of you waiting:

I hear back from my 2 top choices this week! If I get in, one of you can have my seat. 🙂 I'll keep you eager beavers updated: I know every seat counts!
 
http://www.siumed.edu/studentaffairs/admissions/nrmpresults.html

Match results over the last few years. It looks like more students are leaving the midwest for residency and there is a slight rise im primary care. For some reason only 60 students matched for a class of around 72. Previous years showed upper 60s low 70s class sizes matching. I know that some people leave the program for whatever reason, but 12/72 seems like a lot to either leave or not match.
 
mdphd72 said:
I have good news for those of you waiting:

I hear back from my 2 top choices this week! If I get in, one of you can have my seat. 🙂 I'll keep you eager beavers updated: I know every seat counts!
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Haha thanks! Do you have an outright acceptance or are you still on AWPA?
 
startswithb said:
http://www.siumed.edu/studentaffairs/admissions/nrmpresults.html

Match results over the last few years. It looks like more students are leaving the midwest for residency and there is a slight rise im primary care. For some reason only 60 students matched for a class of around 72. Previous years showed upper 60s low 70s class sizes matching. I know that some people leave the program for whatever reason, but 12/72 seems like a lot to either leave or not match.
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Good catch, I never even thought about looking into that. Anyone think this should be considered a big red flag, or is it normal for a school to have that many not match? I'm not familiar in the slightest with that sort of data...
 
Donnie1310 said:
Good catch, I never even thought about looking into that. Anyone think this should be considered a big red flag, or is it normal for a school to have that many not match? I'm not familiar in the slightest with that sort of data...
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Maybe, maybe not. Who knows how many people dropped out, decided medicine wasn't for them, ran into financial woes etc.... I think it would be interested to see how many graduate in May then compare this number. If in fact, 72 graduate and only 60 matched, this could (emphasize could) be a red flag. Then again, I am not terribly familiar with this so anyone who is more knowledgable please chyme in...
 
turkaglew said:
Maybe, maybe not. Who knows how many people dropped out, decided medicine wasn't for them, ran into financial woes etc.... I think it would be interested to see how many graduate in May then compare this number. If in fact, 72 graduate and only 60 matched, this could (emphasize could) be a red flag. Then again, I am not terribly familiar with this so anyone who is more knowledgable please chyme in...
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Would anyone be willing to call the guy in charge (Eric, maybe??)? This seems worth finding out about. I'm pretty surprised considering there are some AWESOME matches on the list.
 
turkaglew said:
Maybe, maybe not. Who knows how many people dropped out, decided medicine wasn't for them, ran into financial woes etc.... I think it would be interested to see how many graduate in May then compare this number. If in fact, 72 graduate and only 60 matched, this could (emphasize could) be a red flag. Then again, I am not terribly familiar with this so anyone who is more knowledgable please chyme in...
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agreed. the number graduating vs the number matching is what would matter most. We've had a couple people leave early in the year 1st year for personal reasons of one sort or another, so I assume in that class there's probably a few of those, maybe a couple who took a year off or repeated a year,etc. I wouldn't start freaking out without knowing how many were graduating on time.
 
mdphd72 said:
I have good news for those of you waiting:

I hear back from my 2 top choices this week! If I get in, one of you can have my seat. 🙂 I'll keep you eager beavers updated: I know every seat counts!
Click to expand...

I wish you good luck! And just out of curiosity, what are your top two choices?
 
Acceptance came today via email. It says formal letter to follow in us mail. Anyone else get an acceptance today?
 
Hmm I wonder if your accept was in between batch. We were told the final batch comes our next week. Either way, congrats! Are you planning on matriculating here?
 
startswithb said:
Hmm I wonder if your accept was in between batch. We were told the final batch comes our next week. Either way, congrats! Are you planning on matriculating here?
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Yes Evan specifically told me the week of the 28th. I'm still praying for that. So hopefully (for me) no one else got any acceptances today. lol.
 
I got AWPA today, but I'm pretty sure I'll be withdrawing before the next batch. It would be my first acceptance, but the school wasn't a good fit for me at all so I'd want one of you who did fit well there to get it over me.

Good luck all!
 
turkaglew said:
Acceptance came today via email. It says formal letter to follow in us mail. Anyone else get an acceptance today?
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woohoo! congrats! You probably got in between batches which means you were at the top of the list. 😀
 
Congrats Turk! You WERE a between-batch acceptance. (Now I need to convince you to come here...)

Next batch comes out next week. Those on AWPA will receive another letter as well with information about how to proceed from here on.
 
Since we have an in between acceptance for someone not accepted in a previous batch, the new interviewees were less competitive, so we all may be in a better position. :meanie:
 
😱 You are all getting my hopes up for next week! You better not let me down 😛
 
Didn't realize I was a tweaner....I was expecting there to be more this week but GL to everyone waiting to hear. :xf::xf:
 
turkaglew said:
Didn't realize I was a tweaner....I was expecting there to be more this week but GL to everyone waiting to hear. :xf::xf:
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Thanks Turk! and congrats to you on the acceptance. Are you planning on matriculating into SIU Med? or are you still deciding between schools?
 
I am still deciding although I am leaning towards matriculating elsewhere. I love SIU though, just not confident the curriculum is right for me...
 
turkaglew said:
I am still deciding although I am leaning towards matriculating elsewhere. I love SIU though, just not confident the curriculum is right for me...
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Come visit us in Cdale. You can come to my Tutor group and see if you like it or not. We have had a few students do that this year. Send me a PM if you are interested and I can get it all set up.
 
1typeg said:
Me too. Congrats men. Decisions...decisions.
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Does anyone know if this Was an inbetween too? Or did the batch go out?

And when exactly did your acceptance come?
 
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Yikes. Hopefully that was also an in between due to withdrawals. Although them both being on SDN doesn't seem likely. If I missed another batch completely I will :cry:.
 
🙁 If I don't get an email today then I have to seriously think about reapplying. For the third time. Eek! startswithb I think we are pretty close together on the list considering our credentials. How many times have you applied?
 
sareeb1 said:
🙁 If I don't get an email today then I have to seriously think about reapplying. For the third time. Eek! startswithb I think we are pretty close together on the list considering our credentials. How many times have you applied?
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This is my second cycle. My back up plan is going to Loyola's Masters in Medical Sciences program this fall. I've already been admitted there. However, I will wait to reapply until after I've finished the program to get the most benefit from it, so it will be two more years until I matriculate. I'm trying to stay positive that chances are decent that I'll get into either UIC or SIU. I think UIC is meeting this Thursday about my decision, but it's very possible that I could be on hold since my stats aren't the greatest. Basically, since I know I'm not a stellar candidate stats-wise I'm prepared to wait until May and June for an acceptance. It's rough, though, emotionally. Good luck to us!
 
sareeb1 said:
🙁 If I don't get an email today then I have to seriously think about reapplying. For the third time.
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They said the batch was coming out this week. Have a plan B, but I wouldn't panic so soon. Plus, even if you don't get in with this batch, you could be high on the AWPA list (which you can find out next week) and you could easily be in that way.

If not, you won't be alone in your third cycle (this guy might be there too...) 😎
 
I'm also still in the waiting pool with all of you, hoping the batch wasn't sent out earlier than we were told. I think this would all be better if I just didn't know when it might come, I've been fine until today and now I'm all anxious! :scared: :laugh:

Hoping to hear something soon so I can stop studying for an MCAT retake and focus on my classes again.

:luck: to everyone!
 
Someone should call and ask if it went out already lol
 
Those were both definitely in between admissions. If the school said something was going out later, then that's when it'll come out. This is med school admissions, things don't run ahead of schedule. Hell it's a good thing when things are ON schedule.
Don't get all worked up just yet. Find out where you are on the list. Top 1/3 means you have a good chance of acceptance. There are a lot of people in this year's class who didn't find out till later. Have a plan but by god don't go panicking just yet. There's plenty of time for that later. haha
 
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the batch went out on Friday. You can call if you'd like confirmation. I'm still stuck on AWPA and things have gotten very confusing for me.
 
John Lennon said:
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the batch went out on Friday. You can call if you'd like confirmation. I'm still stuck on AWPA and things have gotten very confusing for me.
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Do we still have to wait until next week to find out where we are on the list?
 
John Lennon said:
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the batch went out on Friday. You can call if you'd like confirmation. I'm still stuck on AWPA and things have gotten very confusing for me.
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Damn that sucks 🙁 how did you find out it went out? And what's gotten confusing? If you want to share.
 
Okay. I just called. Evan Wilsons last day was Friday, and that was when the last batch was sent. You can call 217-545-6014 to set up an appointment with Dr. Constance to discuss where you are on the list. I have an appointment on Thursday....
 
sareeb1 said:
Okay. I just called. Evan Wilsons last day was Friday, and that was when the last batch was sent. You can call 217-545-6014 to set up an appointment with Dr. Constance to discuss where you are on the list. I have an appointment on Thursday....
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Wow, thanks for the info! I just called and am also talking to Dr. Constance on Thursday. Uggggh I feel awful. If I am not in the top quarter I might as well pack it in. :scared:
 
I didn't realize EW was leaving... is he going elsewhere or just changing positions at SIU?

Thanks Ceasar for the offer, I'll PM you if I decide to make a visit. It seems like you and red really like it down there...

Good luck to those of you still on the AWPA list... keep in mind that a lot of movement happens between May 15 and the first week of June...
 
I feel awful as well. This is eating away at my soul.
 
Batch was finalized Friday and it looks like they went ahead and sent the emails out that day, not sure if the physical letters went out early.

Those waiting should be patient there is a LOT of movement over the next few weeks and months. They will tell you approx your spot if you ask.

You will be receiving a letter if you are still on the AWPA soon.
 
don't feel too bad. I don't have the hard numbers, but anecdotally, of the people accepted right now, only 40-50 will actually come here. Of course, after May 15 that changes.
 
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