2012-2013 Case Western Reserve University Application Thread

[Tots]

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DANG IT!

Someone post before Myuu! 😡


10th anniversary of CCLCM's foundation video

So excited about CCLCM and Case!

TOP(totally tried to find a ninja on top of a robot unicorn but was unsuccessful)

 

[Clumpofstuff]

.

 

[wholeheartedly]

Cool video VC!

 

[wsc2879]

Case western is my top choice. Hopefully it could show me some love this time

 

[aspiringdoc09]

I'm still glad I went to CCLCM. It was a great experience on the whole. Not that every day of medical school is a dream come true, but it's definitely the kindest, gentlest way of entering into the medical world that I know of. It's hard to make medical school any less stressful than CCLCM is. There are no tests, no grades, no tuition, and tons of personal and professional support. My research PI at CCLCM commented that CCLCM students are pampered, and he's right. I don't think that's a bad thing.

However, medical school in general (at CCLCM, and anywhere else) does not prepare you very well for what it's like to be an intern. That's because the real learning about how to be a doctor starts in residency. When you're an MS4, you may finally feel like you're able to make a contribution to your team, but even as a sub-I, you still don't have any real responsibility. You're still just playing at being a doctor. On July 1 of your residency, it's not playing any more. The responsibility just drops down on you all at once. And during those first few weeks and months, it starts to really sink in how ignorant about medicine and patient care you are. You'll never feel as dumb in your whole life as you do in July of your intern year. Fortunately, you do start learning the ropes, and it gets easier. But don't drink the kool-aid, applicants: you will not come out of medical school "prepared" to be an intern.

On a related note, most applicants focus on all the wrong things. I'm not saying that to knock you guys; I focused on all the wrong things when I was an applicant, too. But when you're choosing a med school, what you want to do is take out the least amount of school loans possible, and focus on the kind of clinical training you'll get as an MS3. Those two things are way more important than any preclinical curricular innovations a school may tout. Whether you do PBL or lectures or home study for the first two years of medical school doesn't ultimately matter. You'll learn the same science anywhere. What matters is getting good hands-on clinical experience (which we do at Case/CCLCM), and minimizing your debt. So when you interview, ask about third year, not first or second year. What hospitals do students rotate at? What do they get to do? How are rotations chosen? How are students graded as MS3s? What does the school do to support students in the Match? Likewise, pay more attention to financial aid packages than you do to which kind of preclinical curriculum you think will make you "happy." If you keep those two priorities in mind as a pre-med, you will be a lot happier as an intern.

(For the record, when I give this advice, I am assuming that all else in your personal life is equal, which it won't always be, especially for those of you who are non-trads. If you have a family, you may not be able to prioritize your school choices the way I'm suggesting. So some of you will have to just do what you have to do to make things work for your family.)

Thanks for the advice and I will keep that in mind for all my school choices.

 

[BigBear123]

I want to go to Case Western so bad! It is my med school soul mate. Accept me accept me accept me...

 

[wholeheartedly]

I want to go to Case Western so bad! It is my med school soul mate. Accept me accept me accept me...

LOL, I feel that way too about CCLCM.

 

[sscjlfc12]

lol, i feel that way too about cclcm.

+1

 

[jjolso12]

Any school where the students endorse Diablo 3 will certainly make my list ha

 

[An MD Hopeful]

LOL, I feel that way too about CCLCM.

+1

+2

It would be a dream come true to get into CCLCM. I feel like the program was made for me.

CCLCM, will you marry me?!?!?! 😍

 

[zeppelinpage4]

I want to go to Case Western so bad! It is my med school soul mate. Accept me accept me accept me...

LOL, I feel that way too about CCLCM.

+1

+2

It would be a dream come true to get into CCLCM. I feel like the program was made for me.

CCLCM, will you marry me?!?!?! 😍

+3! I totally agree. I feel like CCLCM is the best fit for me in every way. It is probably my top choice among all the schools I'm applying to. Yet, I am afraid of falling in love with it so early, because I know my odds of even getting an interview seem slim at best.

Gonna hope for the best. I'm doing a lot of research this summer, and I hope that helps. Anyone know the stats or experiences of past accepted students into CCLCM? I'd like to know if I have a realistic shot at this program.

 

[ccfman1991]

+3! I totally agree. I feel like CCLCM is the best fit for me in every way. It is probably my top choice among all the schools I'm applying to. Yet, I am afraid of falling in love with it so early, because I know my odds of even getting an interview seem slim at best.

Gonna hope for the best. I'm doing a lot of research this summer, and I hope that helps. Anyone know the stats or experiences of past accepted students into CCLCM? I'd like to know if I have a realistic shot at this program.

if you go to case's website, or just google case school of medicine class profile, they should have a very basic ppt presentation of their admission's data.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

if you go to case's website, or just google case school of medicine class profile, they should have a very basic ppt presentation of their admission's data.

Ah I didn't even think of looking that up, thanks.

Edit: I found a class profile with some good percentages on the types of activities admitted students participated in.
http://portals.clevelandclinic.org/cclcm/Admissions/Admissions/tabid/4408/Default.aspx
Do they list the average MCAT or GPA anywhere?

 

[vc7777]

We are very much part of Case. We do not publish separate MCAT or other stats for our class. I refer you to our (Case Western) overall class stats for an idea of what is "competitive".

Sent from my phone

 

[zeppelinpage4]

We are very much part of Case. We do not publish separate MCAT or other stats for our class. I refer you to our (Case Western) overall class stats for an idea of what is "competitive".

Sent from my phone

Thanks, good to know. I have all that data from the MSAR, so should be good to go if CCLCM is similar.

 

[endowed]

oh please be good to me case.

 

[jlescher]

Anyone know what the turnaround time is to get a secondary for the CCLCM? I'm only applying to that program.

 

[Myuu]

Anyone know what the turnaround time is to get a secondary for the CCLCM? I'm only applying to that program.

It is exactly the same, as both the College Program and University Program work through iApply. As of yet it is an unspecified day in July.

 

[undergradagain]

Anybody receive a secondary from From CWRU yet?

 

[GooseWing]

Anybody receive a secondary from From CWRU yet?

Not yet. According to last year's thread Case had an interview invite out by 7/19. Anyone know when Case began sending secondaries last year?

 

[DAPI]

Not yet. According to last year's thread Case had an interview invite out by 7/19. Anyone know when Case began sending secondaries last year?

Last years thread has the first secondary received on July 13 and then the first interview invite for the UP on July 19 😕 and August 2 for CCLCM

 

[Fivo]

On the med school info googledoc, it stated that Case Western requires mandatory attendance. How true is this if anyone knows?

 

[gettheleadout]

On the med school info googledoc, it stated that Case Western requires mandatory attendance. How true is this if anyone knows?

Myuu can clarify that if necessary, but if you look in the sources column you should be able to see where I got that from before I typed it in myself. 🙂

If a school stated in their policy that attendance is "expected" I put mandatory most of the time unless there was further clarification.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile

 

[bucks2010]

On the med school info googledoc, it stated that Case Western requires mandatory attendance. How true is this if anyone knows?

Always true for PBL sessions (MWF 8-10am)
Lectures optional (MWF 10-12am)
Tues mornings I am unsure about.
Thursdays are usually optional review sessions.

It's really not that bad considering you are looking at a max of say 10 hrs/week of mandatory stuff, if not less.

Source: MS1 from second look.

 

[jrut73]

I have a question about UP and CP. I don't really have the research background to be competitive at CP, but last year when I applied, I applied to both UP and CP because it wasn't any extra effort and there didn't seem to be a downside to throwing my application in there. I read in a post on page 1 that CP doesn't start evaluating until later. If my main focus is UP, should I just apply to UP and try to give myself the best chance there possible, or will it not make a difference?

 

[gettheleadout]

Always true for PBL sessions (MWF 8-10am)
Lectures optional (MWF 10-12am)
Tues mornings I am unsure about.
Thursdays are usually optional review sessions.

It's really not that bad considering you are looking at a max of say 10 hrs/week of mandatory stuff, if not less.

Source: MS1 from second look.

Thanks for the clarification!

 

[vc7777]

In theory, there could be a delay if you apply to both programs. To use your case as am example, UP maybe decide to extend an invitation to you early, but they will not notify you of this decision until CP has an opportunity to review it also. This is partly a courtesy so that if you are offered two invitations you can coordinate them and avoid separate travel expenses. I should also note that given our admissions process there is likely no disadvantage as far as delaying your interviewing for either program.
Sent from my phone

 

[jrut73]

In theory, there could be a delay if you apply to both programs. To use your case as am example, UP maybe decide to extend an invitation to you early, but they will not notify you of this decision until CP has an opportunity to review it also. This is partly a courtesy so that if you are offered two invitations you can coordinate them and avoid separate travel expenses. I should also note that given our admissions process there is likely no disadvantage as far as delaying your interviewing for either program.
Sent from my phone

That helps, thank you!

 

[Myuu]

Lecture is optional, IQ is not. Tuesday morning is FCM, which is also not optional.

Secondaries this upcoming week!


Sorry if I'm a bit terse--just started my OB/Gyn/peds rotation.

 

[Fivo]

Lecture is optional, IQ is not. Tuesday morning is FCM, which is also not optional.

Secondaries this upcoming week!


Sorry if I'm a bit terse--just started my OB/Gyn/peds rotation.

What is IQ and do you mind giving a more detailed weekly schedule of required/optional class time? Thanks a lot

 

[Myuu]

What is IQ and do you mind giving a more detailed weekly schedule of required/optional class time? Thanks a lot

Please reference the first page of this thread. 🙂

 

[TheShaker]

Would it help if I sacrifice a goat before submitting my application for CWRU?

 

[Myuu]

Would it help if I sacrifice a goat before submitting my application for CWRU?

Only if you've run out of food, are five hundred miles out from the nearest populated town or village, and out of gas. Sacrificing a cheesecake to the gastric gods is totally acceptable. And delicious. Bonus points for lactose intolerance.

 

[jrut73]

Case admissions on Facebook says their secondary application is live! Anyone receive it yet?

 

[wizedw]

Not me yet! Hopefully sometime this afternoon. Verified 6/7

 

[Clumpofstuff]

Got it!
So excited for Case!

 

[jrut73]

Got it!
So excited for Case!

Sweet! Prompts, if you wouldn't mind?

 

[Myuu]

Just FYI, the secondaries are going out in small batches at a time, so no one freak out.

 

[ccfman1991]

Moar sekondairies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Myuu]

Moar payshentss!

 

[ceasefire]

Moar payshentss!

OMG, I wasn't in the first small batch of secondaries!!!!!

 

[Tots]

I got 2 identical secondary emails with 2 different passwords. Should I contact them about this and make sure I use the right one?

 

[Myuu]

I got 2 identical secondary emails with 2 different passwords. Should I contact them about this and make sure I use the right one?

Have you tried them yet?

 

[Tots]

Have you tried them yet?

Nope good idea though! Away from my computer until tonight, then I will try them. Thanks! Can't believe I didn't think of that.....

 

[DAPI]

Anyone else not seeing their photo when they upload it? I just get the little blue question mark box as if the photo will not load although it does say "File uploaded successfully."

 

[DrDestroyMD]

Can someone post the prompts? Thanks.

 

[DAPI]

I applied to both UP and CCLCM so I'm not really sure which prompts go with which program as they are all just lumped together, but this is what I got:


Greatest Challenge Essay (3500 characters)
The admissions committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe the greatest personal challenge you have faced which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a time when you felt you were "in over your head," or a time when you felt personally criticized. You may also discuss a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience and what you may have learned about yourself.

Research Essay (3500 characters)
One of the four pillars of the Western Reserve2 Curriculum is Research and Scholarship. Although research is not a pre-requisite requirement for the University Track, if you have participated in research or another scholarly project please tell us about it. Describe your experience, including the question you pursued and how you approached it, your results and interpretation of the results, and most importantly, any thoughts about what this experience meant to you. Remember that research is broad-based and can include such projects as a senior capstone or a thesis and can include both medical and non-medically-related investigations.

Small Group Essay (300-1000 characters)
If you were working on a small group project and you thought that another student wasn't carrying his/her load, how would you handle it?

Areas of improvement (500-1000 characters)
Each year our students target for themselves areas of improvement. Other than the acquisition of new knowledge, what personal area do you think you have that could use strengthening? Design a plan as to how you could improve it.

Criticism & Feedback (500-1000 characters)
Tell us about a time when you received unexpected criticism or negative feedback. How did you react? What did you do?

 

[GooseWing]

The longer the wait to receive this secondary the better. I could certainly use a break from this 1.5 weeks straight of doing secondary after secondary.... I'm getting some serious writer's block.

 

[wizedw]

The longer the wait to receive this secondary the better. I could certainly use a break from this 1.5 weeks straight of doing secondary after secondary.... I'm getting some serious writer's block.

Exact opposite feeling! I haven't gotten a new one in a week. I want them all on my plate so they can just be done!

 

[mairaj24]

I just got the secondary a few minutes ago.