2011-2012 The Commonwealth Medical College Application Thread

[Member 1111]

I will be there as well!

Me too! Hoping to find a good roommate

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[ElwayFan]

3rd year TCMC student here. If you have any questions pm me. I don't know all the accreditation/money stuff but general questions I can try to help.

 

[radicean]

What's the second day look? Is that for admitted students to see if they like the school only or for admitted + waitlisted students?

 

[ElwayFan]

What's the second day look? Is that for admitted students to see if they like the school only or for admitted + waitlisted students?

When I had it it was only for accepted students. But you have the general idea.

If you're on the waitlist you can keep your fingers crossed that an accepted person goes to 2nd visit day, doesn't like it, and drops their spot letting you in.

 

[Member 1111]

How did TCMC match this year? Is there a list out?

 

[radicean]

Hey everyone - I was a late submission applicant (unfortunately!) this cycle and my application has been under "final review" for the past four weeks with TCMC. This was told to me by the Director of Admissions Kelley Williams. I've contactd the admissions office a couple times to give them my letter of intent and updated graduate GPA scores (3.8), but nothing has budged so far.

Is "final review" a polite way of decline or should I expect it to still be in the reviewing process? It's a shame since I'm extremely excited about TCMC.

 

[KiroMD]

don't trip man. this school functions on a non-rolling admission system.

no reason to worry haha. u're still being considered.

Hey everyone - I was a late submission applicant (unfortunately!) this cycle and my application has been under "final review" for the past four weeks with TCMC. This was told to me by the Director of Admissions Kelley Williams. I've contactd the admissions office a couple times to give them my letter of intent and updated graduate GPA scores (3.8), but nothing has budged so far.

Is "final review" a polite way of decline or should I expect it to still be in the reviewing process? It's a shame since I'm extremely excited about TCMC.

 

[KiroMD]

Has anyone started the fb group?

 

[Bro Dude]

Has anyone started the fb group?

Bro, don't you have finals to study for?

 

[whyrishiwhynot]

How did TCMC match this year? Is there a list out?

They haven't had a class go through the match yet... oldest class is in 3rd yr now

 

[KiroMD]

my facebook skills get better right before finals haha. i have a final tomorrow haha. pray for me lol.

hope finals are going well for u too lol

Bro, don't you have finals to study for?

 

[src922]

Does anyone know if TCMC accepts LOI's and updated transcripts? Thanks!

 

[KiroMD]

Does anyone know if TCMC accepts LOI's and updated transcripts? Thanks!

I tried to send an update letter a while ago, but they told me they don't accept them. I have no idea about Letters of Interests or Transcripts. It wouldn't hurt to call and check!

 

[blue1]

so....

who's going to the 2nd look day on april 28th???

I'll be there! Does anyone want to share a hotel room?

 

[radicean]

Hello everyone. Could someone please tell me...

1) What kinds of questions do they ask in the interview?

2) What should I expect from the first and second interview?

3) Who was conducting the interviews?

I am currently scheduled for an interview on April 6th and this school is honestly one of my top picks so I'm really hoping for the best despite the lateness of my application.

Thank you and good luck everyone.

 

[GlassRose]

Hello everyone. Could someone please tell me...

1) What kinds of questions do they ask in the interview?

2) What should I expect from the first and second interview?

3) Who was conducting the interviews?

I am currently scheduled for an interview on April 6th and this school is honestly one of my top picks so I'm really hoping for the best despite the lateness of my application.

Thank you and good luck everyone.

http://studentdoctor.net/schools/school/tcmc/survey/26

Go look around this page and check out the "Questions" section.

 

[KiroMD]

Hello everyone. Could someone please tell me...

1) What kinds of questions do they ask in the interview?

2) What should I expect from the first and second interview?

3) Who was conducting the interviews?

I am currently scheduled for an interview on April 6th and this school is honestly one of my top picks so I'm really hoping for the best despite the lateness of my application.

Thank you and good luck everyone.

So I just interviewed there on the 12th, and here's my experience.

First of all, the interview process is different than before. The way it worked for me is that you get an email with a bunch of available dates, and you schedule whatever is convenient for you.

The interview day looks like this:

9:30 Check in (they give u a little mini intro and hi and stuff)
10: Interview #1 - Faculty
1030: Interivew #2 - Student (the order of the interviews can vary definitely).
11-12 - some presentations about curriculum and the school
12-1 lunch
1-2 tour
2-20 they'll take u in one by one. it's called the exit interview. you'll meet with an admissions committee for 5 minutes or so. the ad com actually knows ur grades. they'll see if you have any feedback about your interview day... again, my guy was pretty amazing haha. we had a ton of fun just talking. we almost ran out of time too haha... and he'll tell u some minor comments about ur mcat/gpa and it's strictly private just u and an adcome... if they have any questions or concerns they'll bring them up... for me, i just told him that despite the fact that i'm from california, i'd be down to live in PA and i'd be down to my residency in PA (if I get in of course)... I wasn't making this up: I really would live here if I get into residency there

(Note: The interviews are designed to be very conversational/laid back. They are semi-blind, which means the person interviewing you would have read your PS and secondaries, but won't know ur gpa or mcat. They do that on purpose because they don't want to cloud the interviewer's judgment of you; moreover, they do that because they want to see if you are qualified to be a physician outside of the academic picture. they really stress service to humanities and stuff. my interviewer was the coolest person ever (Dr. Tracy). He was very laid back, and we just talked forever... My Student interviewer was a cool guy, but it was his first time doing it. Anyways, I had fun interviewing with both of them!)

PS: I had a lot of fun with my interviews, but some of the people there got pretty hard/ethical questions haha... it was interesting, but idk i didn't have any of that, so i'll leave someone else to comment on that haha...

the staff is VERY excited to have u. Everyone is so friendly. I come from california, so Scranton was pretty small, but i loved the whole community feeling.

Everyone that said this school is selective is right haha. They like PA residents. Their breakdown is roughly 70% PA area and 30% CA. don't stress over this too much. once you're granted the interview, if you're a decent human being who wants to help the community, u won't be discriminated against because of residence...

tips for applicants: this school is really into its community and they to train u to be their physicians, so just keep that in mind when writing ur stuff. they really do like u, and they want u to succeed. they are really into community service and contribution to surroundings (not necessarily medical contributions). the whole town is excited about the med school. also, they are helping out the places that were just flooded haha... so yea it's awesome. you'll be very excited when u get there.

the new building is now open. everything is there. no more lackawanna community college which is pretty tight. everything is up to date. as a med student, u get 24/7 access to the building and everything.

there is a student lounge and everything

the M1s were very excited to be there and were happy to help answer questions.

the M2s weren't very talkative, but they were helpful...we just had to pick their brain lol...


lastly, they're not ready to reject anyone. they have a unique way of determining who gets in and who doesn't. they'll explain in more thorough detail at the interview, but essentially if you don't hear back, that's good news. it means they're still considering you. so they consider u with the people that were just interviewed. it'll make more sense when u hear it from them.

hope this was helpful for everyone who is getting ready to go to the interivew.


if u have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. i'd be happy to chit chat with u for a lil about this school. i really like haha!!!

lemme know if you have any other questions!

 

[blue1]

Does anyone know what day school (or orientation week) starts?

 

[coughsyrup]

wow got the fin aid award letter...

why is medical school so expensive

 

[jesse120]

wow got the fin aid award letter...

why is medical school so expensive

Any scholarship/grants?

 

[SlaveOfTCMC]

my advice to everyone who is accepted:

Attend class but pay minimal attention. Pretend you are paying attention but secretly study for Boards and more practical clinical skills (or for first years, anatomical skills)

Do not rely on textbooks. While they are a great source of informatino, there is no way you can ever read all of that in a short period of time and actually retain any information. Rather, use textbooks only for their illustrations. Obtain board review materials and do PRACTICE QUESTIONS over and over (upperclassmen will tell you about what sources to obtain)

Moreover, preclinical grades mean so very little in the grand scheme of things. but if you want to show everyone up, just be good at rote memorization.

Studying for Board material (to get overall concepts) and then rote memorizing the school's slides will get you 90+ on the school exams (which is NOTHING remotely resembling for the board exams will be)... hey it worked for me.


All in all, don't be a jerk. Most of the current MD2s and MD1s are complete jerks. Be a nice person. You can be competitive without being a jerk.

 

[radicean]

Well, tomorrow is my interview. Wish me luck!

Update: TCMC and the surrounding area are gorgeous. The building, from the library to the individual study rooms and anatomy lab, looked absolutely modern, open, and high-tech. The surrounding area has some beautiful scenery and the people were extremely nice. To make a long story short, there isn't a single doubt in my mind that I want to matriculate and go here.

If anyone has any question about the school, the facility, or the interview please PM me and I'd be glad to let you know how it is.

Good luck!

 

[Member 1111]

Has anyone received the schedule for Visiting Day?

 

[blue1]

Has anyone received the schedule for Visiting Day?

Not yet. I asked, and they said they would send it in a week or so. It'll be any day, now.

 

[coughsyrup]

Any scholarship/grants?

nope prob. cuz of my "low" stats

 

[Member 1111]

Not yet. I asked, and they said they would send it in a week or so. It'll be any day, now.

Great, thanks!!

 

[enTropeeeeeeeee]

Anybody else waiting for tomorrow??

 

[gbc85]

Yuuuuuuuuup

 

[radicean]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Good luck everyone!

 

[src922]

Are we notified by email? For those who got messages during the last round, when do they come out? Good Luck all!!

 

[GlassRose]

Are we notified by email? For those who got messages during the last round, when do they come out? Good Luck all!!

Yes, e-mail. I received mine first thing in the morning (maybe 8ish?). They also send the decision snail mail.

Good luck everyone!!

 

[jesse120]

Anybody else waiting for tomorrow??

Definitely. I really liked the school and kept the 28th free for second look in case good news come. tomorrow guys

 

[bobo1]

Accepted via email at 5:40am....unreal

 

[src922]

Accepted. 5:40 am too!

 

[FutureDoctor503]

I haven't received anything yet.

 

[golgiapparatus88]

Official accepted at 5:44am. Congrats everyone.

 

[gbc85]

Does not having received an email yet mean no acceptance?

 

[Ineedhopenow]

Does not having received an email yet mean no acceptance?

I think so, or waitlisted.

Congrats to those accepted, would you mind sharing your stats?

 

[src922]

Sure. 29/3.9 IS

 

[Docsted]

Anyone oos have any luck?

 

[gbc85]

Anyone hear anything since those acceptances went out this morning?

 

[WisdomDoc]

Anyone hear anything since those acceptances went out this morning?

No email here

 

[jesse120]

rejected here. congrats to those accepted!

 

[gbc85]

Email or status change?

 

[jesse120]

email

 

[FutureDoctor503]

rejected here. congrats to those accepted!

What time did you receive the email?

 

[jesse120]

What time did you receive the email?

6:04am

 

[golgiapparatus88]

Anyone oos have any luck?

Yes sir! NJ here.

 

[Future doc 12]

No email yet :/

 

[Docsted]

Yes sir! NJ here.

Congrats! Did you not get IS residency doing the MBS program?