My interview only lasted 40 min, and if you pick the afternoon there was no second interview!
2010-2011 Virginia Commonwealth University Application Thread
- Thread starter ksmi117
- Start date
- Status
My interview only lasted 40 min, and if you pick the afternoon there was no second interview!
Hey all, not sure if anyone has seen this post from 2008, but it gives some insight into their process. Hope it helps!
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=446625
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=446625
the interview is scheduled for 1 hr, and i saw both people from morning and afternoon do second interviews. it is open-file and they have a list of questions to choose from. my interviewer was retired from the dept of pathology.
8-11: interviews
11-12: speak with dean of admin and financial aid
12-145: lunch/campus tour w/ M2
2-3: interviews
2:30-3:30: second interviews
i had a 9-10 interview which lasted the full hour, though prob 40 min was questions and the last 20 were me asking questions.
tour was nice: though girls might wanna pack some flats into their bag.
my 2nd interview actually went for 40 minutes, but theyre only supposed to be for 30. and my interviewer looked like colonel sanders. 😛
8-11: interviews
11-12: speak with dean of admin and financial aid
12-145: lunch/campus tour w/ M2
2-3: interviews
2:30-3:30: second interviews
i had a 9-10 interview which lasted the full hour, though prob 40 min was questions and the last 20 were me asking questions.
tour was nice: though girls might wanna pack some flats into their bag.
my 2nd interview actually went for 40 minutes, but theyre only supposed to be for 30. and my interviewer looked like colonel sanders. 😛
- Joined
- May 11, 2008
- Messages
- 4,078
- Reaction score
- 42
I'm actually really excited about the campus tour! It sounds kind of weird maybe but I'm really looking forward to that part of the day. I feel like it's going to make everything about pursuing medical school real compared to just some dream I've always had (sounds ridiculously cheesy, I know...you have full permission to send an eye-roll my way).
I feel like I've read somewhere that the second interview doesn't really count and that it's part of some pilot study to determine whether they should incorporate the two interview format for future applicants. Am I right about this or am I thinking of something else?
Edit: Who's going to be there on Sept. 23rd?! I'm hoping to see someone from SDN there.
🙄
just kidding! i'm actually really excited about the tour too, so you are in good company. its definitely not cheesy
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2010
- Messages
- 56
- Reaction score
- 0
do you guys think it's normal to still have a "Complete" status since being complete 8.17? i haven't heard a word... debating whether I should call or continue waiting.
I feel like I've read somewhere that the second interview doesn't really count and that it's part of some pilot study to determine whether they should incorporate the two interview format for future applicants. Am I right about this or am I thinking of something else?
Edit: Who's going to be there on Sept. 23rd?! I'm hoping to see someone from SDN there.[/QUOTE]
It says on the status page when you are invited to interview that the second interview is part of a pilot study, and that it will have absolutely no impact on admissions. The second interview will only be considered after the class is full. At that point it will be compared to the first interview and the acceptances.
Edit: Who's going to be there on Sept. 23rd?! I'm hoping to see someone from SDN there.[/QUOTE]
It says on the status page when you are invited to interview that the second interview is part of a pilot study, and that it will have absolutely no impact on admissions. The second interview will only be considered after the class is full. At that point it will be compared to the first interview and the acceptances.
I would call. They are really nice in the office!
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2010
- Messages
- 56
- Reaction score
- 0
Just got the further status. Good/bad?
Definitely not bad. Did you end up calling?
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2010
- Messages
- 56
- Reaction score
- 0
yeah i was told i'd hear by 6 today. and i did.
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2010
- Messages
- 948
- Reaction score
- 0
to upenn and grad, i was complete for a long time w/ vcu awhile back. i got the further status too. bogg - i'm expecting you'll get the further status. not sure why it takes so long.
so what does the further status mean penn? no one really knows what the statuses definitively mean; however, further is better than rejection and "furthers" have a chance at getting interviews. i've been on "further" for a long time, if i get an interview, i don't expect it for awhile. gl guys. we'll keep in contact i'm sure! haha
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2006
- Messages
- 6,133
- Reaction score
- 2,369
It's not important at all.
Might as well give them a call. Things sometimes fall through the cracks.
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2008
- Messages
- 373
- Reaction score
- 0
😳 same OOS with interested/may status since 8/11. This is just getting sad...I really don't think the interested > further status like people have been speculating. If that's true, you'd think all the interested candidates would have priority over the further ones but that's obviously not the case. More waiting for now I guess
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2010
- Messages
- 1
- Reaction score
- 0
I had the "may" status for a little while, complete 8/3 but then got an interview invite on 9/3 and interviewed 9/8. I think that was only the second day of interviews, but I'm not sure. Mine was in the morning with the financial aid dean, the nicest woman I've met in a while. It lasted 1:20 which was longer than I expected. Is that a good thing? I'm assuming so...🙂
And the tour is cool, they feed you pretty nicely (you have options of wrap-type of things i.e. chicken wrap, seafood wrap, etc. or a salad of sorts and a soda or water). The M2's were very pleasant tourguides, and were obviously knowledgeable about issues prospective students care about. It was 90 degrees out that day so if you interview soon, be aware that a fair amount of walking is outdoors and you will roast in a suit if it is hot.
Cheers, good luck
EDIT: P.s. If you are anxious/nervous about interviewing here, read this introduction for insight:
Her: So are you nervous?
Me: Yes ma'am (I am honest, what can I say?)
Her: Well take a deep breath, and don't be.
And it's true they are very chilled out, we talked about cooking and sports, etc.
And the tour is cool, they feed you pretty nicely (you have options of wrap-type of things i.e. chicken wrap, seafood wrap, etc. or a salad of sorts and a soda or water). The M2's were very pleasant tourguides, and were obviously knowledgeable about issues prospective students care about. It was 90 degrees out that day so if you interview soon, be aware that a fair amount of walking is outdoors and you will roast in a suit if it is hot.
Cheers, good luck
EDIT: P.s. If you are anxious/nervous about interviewing here, read this introduction for insight:
Her: So are you nervous?
Me: Yes ma'am (I am honest, what can I say?)
Her: Well take a deep breath, and don't be.
And it's true they are very chilled out, we talked about cooking and sports, etc.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2010
- Messages
- 948
- Reaction score
- 0
has anyone ever called vcu and asked what they mean? lol
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2010
- Messages
- 15
- Reaction score
- 0
To my knowledge, it's not crucial, but it should give you a slight edge, especially if you end up being a more average applicant.
Here's my reasoning:
There were roughly 800 interviewees last year, for 200-ish spots. There are four release dates, and assuming that they interview the same amount of people per session, so you are competing for 50 spots against 200 other interviewees. If you miss the first wave of acceptance, you have to compete again for 50 spots, but against the others that fail your session and the next batch of interviewees.
That's why school advise you to send your file as early as possible. Now obviously, it would be counter-productive to rush into an interview to mess it up.
its true that the second interview doesnt count. the dean said that they sit down every monday and review the people who had been interview. then the person who first reviewed ur file and your interviewer advocate on your behalf. then the 30-40 people on the adcom give you their ranking and all the numbers are put into a computer and ur given a ranking by the comp. if ur number is towards the top of the list, you get an acceptance.
after all this, the second interviewer gives their impression of you to see whether it would have affected ur spot on the list. so no impact whatsoever. but still i wouldnt go about being a jerk just because i doesnt matter, who knows what really goes on in those adcom meetings 😉
Just got the interested status today
well all hope is not lost
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2008
- Messages
- 373
- Reaction score
- 0
Is >5 weeks an unsually long time to wait between interested and interview invite? I want to call and ask what's going on with my app but don't want to seem pushy. Patience is a virtue I do not possess. Do you guys think I should wait longer? Last year, there was a guy with "very interested" status who apparently VCU forgot about and he was waiting 8+ weeks or so...don't know if he ever got his invite
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2005
- Messages
- 1,440
- Reaction score
- 114
So I thought my file was complete (had gotten an email saying my status changed and the website said "complete") yesterday (9/15)... and I got another email saying my status changed today (9/16) and it says on the website:
Your M.D. file is now complete. The Admissions Committee will now do a comprehensive review of your application. Once the review is complete, your file will be prioritized, and interviews will be granted based on your priority score and the date your file was completed.
Anybody body else have this happen to them? Also anyone know about the "priority score?"
Your M.D. file is now complete. The Admissions Committee will now do a comprehensive review of your application. Once the review is complete, your file will be prioritized, and interviews will be granted based on your priority score and the date your file was completed.
Anybody body else have this happen to them? Also anyone know about the "priority score?"
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2010
- Messages
- 56
- Reaction score
- 2
Anyone have a recommendation for a hotel, one that is really close to the interview location (within walking distance)?
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2010
- Messages
- 222
- Reaction score
- 1
The marriott downtown richmond is three blocks from the medical campus. It's a rather nice hotel and only $93.00 a night when you ask for the VCU/MCV student discount (parking is an additional $19).
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2009
- Messages
- 75
- Reaction score
- 0
Keep waiting; they're probably staying very busy with the first few rounds of interviews and getting settled into the school year. Its only September--plenty of time left!
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2005
- Messages
- 1,440
- Reaction score
- 114
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2010
- Messages
- 948
- Reaction score
- 0
basically now that you got the complete email, later on you'll get an email with your updated status. prob like a lot of schools or something, they just give you a score. better score = better chances of getting an interview. it is what it is. besides that once you get a updated status, it may have a confusing meaning. just look through the thread and you'll know what i mean.
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2010
- Messages
- 231
- Reaction score
- 0
I have a quick question for you guys... VCU acknowledged my application the day of AMCAS verification, and then the day later (yesterday) I received the secondary. I know that VCU screens, but I was surprised to receive the secondary so quickly. Does anyone have any explanation for this? Have they stopped screening late in the year, are they just screening by stats, etc. I've basically read the entire thread and didn't see anything about this. Thanks in advance.
PS, I'm an OOS applicant.
PS, I'm an OOS applicant.
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2009
- Messages
- 75
- Reaction score
- 0
They probably keep a tight hold on that information, even within their office. You will see plenty of educated guessing on here (and for all schools) but remember to acknowledge the information as just that unless you hear firsthand from their office how they screen.
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2010
- Messages
- 254
- Reaction score
- 1
Invite, OOS, complete late August, "May" status (e-mail notifying about status change, and to check the website. the e-mail looked like all the other status change e-mails i've gotten from VCU)
Looks like earliest dates are late October.
Looks like earliest dates are late October.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2008
- Messages
- 34
- Reaction score
- 0
OOS interview invite today, complete 8/10 and had the "interested" status.
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2010
- Messages
- 254
- Reaction score
- 1
e-mail or status change or both? I'm a little bit jealous because I wish I had an invite but I don't, so congratulations!! Best wishes
And same to you DancinSarah 😀
Thanks! Updated my post with more info.
Basically, I submitted my secondary a few days after they opened, then I was marked "complete and ready to review" like 4 times before I finally got the "may" status. Just an hour ago i got an e-mail saying my status was updated, and to check the website for notification. Funny system but hey an invite is an invite and I'm excited!
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2007
- Messages
- 414
- Reaction score
- 0
Thanks! Updated my post with more info.
Basically, I submitted my secondary a few days after they opened, then I was marked "complete and ready to review" like 4 times before I finally got the "may" status. Just an hour ago i got an e-mail saying my status was updated, and to check the website for notification. Funny system but hey an invite is an invite and I'm excited!
Oh you should be excited, it's a great school. I have some remote ties there, so I speak with a little authority in a very positive way about MCV (VCU). Congratulations, big time!!
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2008
- Messages
- 373
- Reaction score
- 0
😱, you had to wait that long with the "very interested" status? I think you're the only one with that status that I've seen for this year. And I thought I had it bad waiting since 8/11 with my "interested/may" status. No interview for me still, more waiting for now I guess. Congrats on everyone's invites!!
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2008
- Messages
- 34
- Reaction score
- 0
e-mail or status change or both? I'm a little bit jealous because I wish I had an invite but I don't, so congratulations!! Best wishes
And same to you DancinSarah 😀
Hey, thanks! I got an email saying my status had updated and I had to go check it.
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2007
- Messages
- 715
- Reaction score
- 2
Interview Invite =D
7/28 Complete, 8/12 "may" status, 9/19 Invite
Don't lose hope and keep checking your inbox (having an iphone helps a lot)!
7/28 Complete, 8/12 "may" status, 9/19 Invite
Don't lose hope and keep checking your inbox (having an iphone helps a lot)!
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2009
- Messages
- 100
- Reaction score
- 0
Haha, anything to make us more obsessive 😛
And congrats! What days does VCU offer for interviews atm?
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2007
- Messages
- 715
- Reaction score
- 2
Dates are mainly Nov - Feb, Mon - Thurs. I guess they review/discuss apps on Fri...
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2010
- Messages
- 66
- Reaction score
- 0
They actually review/discuss apps on Mondays.
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2010
- Messages
- 484
- Reaction score
- 1
Any either know or have a educated guess about when VCU generally sends out interview invites? I thought it was after 6pm (EST) on Sundays generally, but it seems like some people have gotten status updates during other days of the week.
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2010
- Messages
- 130
- Reaction score
- 0
further -> invite (my first!)
- Status
