Sorry for the late update. I just had a final right after returning from the interview and after that hectic work days.
Here are a few things about my 12/5 interview:
- There were about 15 interviewees of which about 5 were from in-state.
- The faculty, staff, and students are very happy, polite, and sincere. It's hard to come across any place with nice people everywhere like at VCU.
- My interviews seemed to go by very fast. We didn't notice time at all. I had 2 interviews (1-hr open file and 30-minute closed file). My interviews were a continuous flow of chat. The interviewers (both are faculty MDs on the adcom with several decades of experiences) are not only nice but are very laid back who shared with me their stories, their lives, what they liked about the school, etc. I would love to become their students and learn from these dedicated and experienced teachers and doctors. If you're nervous about the interview, please review the latest interview question surveys on SDN for VCU. Basically, just be yourself because I don't think the interviewers are there to destroy you but rather want to know more about you so they can become your advocate in the adcom. They're genuinely nice people so please give them a chance to get to know you.
- The new curriculum and new medical education building will debut in 2013. So, the class entering 2012 will have 1st year with the existing curriculum and buildings, and the 2nd year with the new curriculum and the new tall and fantastic building. It's exciting to learn from both worlds.
- My highlights of the tour was the simulation lab with "Harvey" for cardiopulmonary physical exam practices and the by-chance chat with 3 med students during their On-Call rotations (the 3rd and 4th year). We didn't get to see the anatomy lab as cadavers were inside. I was a bit scared to see only 2 simulation labs available for 200 students to share, but was assured in the new, tall medical school building, the entire floor with lots of simulation labs would be available for us to practice...making mistakes on these drones. My tour guides were probably the nicest medical students I've met. I've noticed most med students avoid mingling with the pre-med crowd -- they are most certainly afraid of being bombarded with endless questions and emails. Not these tour guides. She and I have written back and forth with informative and long email exchange. She is just a genuinely caring and kind person, so fitting to become a future affable and capable physician.
- If you pay attention to Dean Whitehurst-Cook (very nice, caring and gentle) when the Dean talked, you would get most of your questions about the admission process answered. The Dean told our group that since we got interviewed on Mon 12/5, the following Monday (today), the adcom would review our files. Our stats and picture would be projected on the big screen while the discussion would last for about 5' with our interviewers (voting members in the adcom) as our advocates. Then voting came -- Adcom consisted of about 30 to 35 members. Final tally would yield a score from 1 - 5 with 1 being most preferrable and 3 is acceptable. Anything below 3 would be a rejection. Acceptance would happen on Dec 15, Feb or March. After March, if no acceptance yet (but didn't get rejected), then wait for being placed on either of the 2 waitlists: out-of-state waitlist and in-state waitlist. If not able to get on the waitlist, then it's a rejection. Once on waitlist, anything can happen, up to the last minutes before Orientation starts.
I'm still waiting for my status update after the interview. I don't yet get any status (hold, etc.). So, I don't know if the adcom has discussed my file today or not. But I'm no longer anxious (as I was while waiting for priority score assignment and interview invite) because up to this point, I've done what I could to show the school my interests. The rest is not in my control anymore.
Hope this helps future interviewees! 🙂 Please don't be scared. VCU is true to what others have been saying: a thoroughly and genuinely nice and caring school with solid curriculum and technology usage.
That was just what I heard from the tour guides. Thanks for clearing that up, though!
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