2012-2013 Vanderbilt University Application Thread

[TorpedoVegas]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Got the secondary invite today as well. 3.89/34T, processed by AMCAS 6/18, notification of receipt from Vandy 7/11, and secondary invite 8/1 as I said. Made my day! 🙂

 

[AllDay24]

Have we reached a consensus on whether or not Vandy is still operating under the rule that secondary = interview invitation for most candidates?

 

[TorpedoVegas]

Have we reached a consensus on whether or not Vandy is still operating under the rule that secondary = interview invitation for most candidates?

I don't know if we can be too sure yet. Since their website states "The secondary application and letters of recommendation are required for consideration to be interviewed. This is new for the 2013 admissions season," I'm not sure we can make an assumption either way. A few more weeks into the cycle maybe we can get a better idea based on who gets interviews and if any post-secondary rejections surface.

Interesting that they've changed it up though. I would imagine that if they're doing it this way now, then it has some implications for how they screen the applicants overall. Like I said though, I'm not sure at all... Maybe someone out there knows though. 😀

 

[MCATagain]

Have we reached a consensus on whether or not Vandy is still operating under the rule that secondary = interview invitation for most candidates?

Just spoke to someone at the admissions office. This year secondaries are pre-screened but they don't guarantee II. The committee will do a comprehensive review of applications before extending any II.

 

[NewYorker9]

Just spoke to someone at the admissions office. This year secondaries are pre-screened but they don't guarantee II. The committee will do a comprehensive review of applications before extending any II.

thanks for the update

 

[sean842]

Just spoke to someone at the admissions office. This year secondaries are pre-screened but they don't guarantee II. The committee will do a comprehensive review of applications before extending any II.

How stringent will the post secondary screen be though. That's the real question...if 90+% of secondaries get invites I would consider that pretty good odds.

 

[premed8991]

Congrats on secondary invites! What day did you guys get the Vandy confirmation email?Has anyone received a secondary invite that received confrimation on July 17th or later?

 

[Nymphicus]

Have we reached a consensus on whether or not Vandy is still operating under the rule that secondary = interview invitation for most candidates?

This year, for the first time, it goes like this:

Primary --> SCREEN --> Secondary ---> SCREEN ---> Interview

Just spoke to someone at the admissions office. This year secondaries are pre-screened but they don't guarantee II. The committee will do a comprehensive review of applications before extending any II.

This is correct.

How stringent will the post secondary screen be though. That's the real question...if 90+% of secondaries get invites I would consider that pretty good odds.

They are hoping to give out around 500 interviews, roughly half the amount of last year.

 

[sean842]

They are hoping to give out around 500 interviews, roughly half the amount of last year.

That's preferable...now students won't spend money on a plane ticket when they have a slim chance of being admitted.

 

[SBuck53]

Just got the secondary today as well, 3.8/36Q OOS from MN. First II are supposed to be out Friday, so here's to hoping I can get this mammoth of a secondary soon!

 

[pr2]

This year, for the first time, it goes like this:

Primary --> SCREEN --> Secondary ---> SCREEN ---> Interview



This is correct.



They are hoping to give out around 500 interviews, roughly half the amount of last year.

I have a question regarding the logistics of the screen. They said that they will review Rec letters with your secondary to determine interview invites, but it also says that Rec letters have to be physically scanned into the system and therefore may not be uploaded until a few days prior to your interview date.

So how is that going to work necessarily?

 

[saveourpens]

So...anyone with stats around 35 and 3.8 not get a secondary?

 

[endowed]

So...anyone with stats around 35 and 3.8 not get a secondary?

3.9 and 35 no secondary 🙁

 

[saveourpens]

Well, that makes me feel a little better. Last year I spent $500 to get put on what I believe was a 700 person wait-list. Probably a good thing that their screen is apparently much tighter this year.

 

[eggs13]

So...anyone with stats around 35 and 3.8 not get a secondary?

35 and 3.74....nothin...

 

[vka2612]

34Q, 3.9, no secondary 🙁

 

[5lippy]

~3.8, ~35 got a secondary today. I'll finish it by friday morning and submit it. website says 8/3 is the first day that II's come out...GL to everyone!

 

[collegestud2013]

Got a secondary today with a 3.91 and 34S. Like a lot of people here I also got the "application received" e-mail on 7/11, so for those of you who got the e-mail after that date I wouldn't worry too much yet.

 

[romeosterp]

3.9 and 36 and no secondary :/

 

[DCSB6]

Probably too late for us who received secondaries yesterday to be considered for tomorrow's interviews, huh?

 

[NewYorker9]

Probably too late for us who received secondaries yesterday to be considered for tomorrow's interviews, huh?

well if you turned it in right away that would still give admissions ~8 hours to look it over . . . I suppose if it fell just right to the top of someone's pile it's possible but chances are better that there's a queue of others that have submitted in these past weeks

 

[5lippy]

my autobiography essay was only about 700 words. 1200 seems so long...

my other two essays were right under 500. Anybody do the same?

 

[Nymphicus]

This is what the lecture halls look like for anybody interested.

Photo courtesy VUMC.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

So... I take it VB males like the color blue and its shades? 😀

 

[Nymphicus]

So... I take it VB males like the color blue and its shades? 😀

Haha, I don't know about blue specifically, but people here are much better dressed than I was used to coming from undergrad.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Haha, I don't know about blue specifically, but people here are much better dressed than I was used to coming from undergrad.

Any dress codes outside of with patients?

I know Mayo is very strict suit-only around patients, curious if any schools 'follow suit.'

Edit: Off-topic, but I love that the projector is just on the computer's desktop

 

[Nymphicus]

Any dress codes outside of with patients?

I know Mayo is very strict suit-only around patients, curious if any schools 'follow suit.'

Edit: Off-topic, but I love that the projector is just on the computer's desktop

Professional + white coat when interacting with patients or when in a clinical setting. Otherwise it's whatever you want, but people still dress fairly nicely for the most part.

 

[AtlasCarraway]

Loving everything about that pic.

 

[SBuck53]

Loving everything about that pic.

Agreed, looks amazing. Just sent in my secondary, keepin my fingers crossed!

 

[Frazier]

This is what the lecture halls look like for anybody interested.

Photo courtesy VUMC.

upright piano ftw

 

[NewYorker9]

This is what the lecture halls look like for anybody interested.

Photo courtesy VUMC.

Is this really what the typical student wears to class during the pre-clinical years? I couldn't help but notice not too many are actually taking notes, most are just soaking in the words of the lecturer, which to me indicates this may be a guest speaker or perhaps a orientation/debrief. It's not a negative to me if this is typical dress, but something about the picture says it's not your "average" lecture.

 

[yellowfish]

Is this really what the typical student wears to class during the pre-clinical years? I couldn't help but notice not too many are actually taking notes, most are just soaking in the words of the lecturer, which to me indicates this may be a guest speaker or perhaps a orientation/debrief. It's not a negative to me if this is typical dress, but something about the picture says it's not your "average" lecture.

And no bookbags? 😛

 

[styleandsugar]

hahaha this is what the entire Vanderbilt campus dresses like. Don't be shocked if you see this "uniform attire" at football games too. Seemed like a great medical school (and residency) when I interviewed, I just couldn't handle the "culture" of the campus.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

hahaha this is what the entire Vanderbilt campus dresses like. Don't be shocked if you see this "uniform attire" at football games too. Seemed like a great medical school (and residency) when I interviewed, I just couldn't handle the "culture" of the campus.

Is that really how it is? It may just be a little too much to feel really out of place if I choose to dress down one day...

Plus, having a steady stock of dress clothes for every single day is a bit excessive.

 

[Nymphicus]

Is this really what the typical student wears to class during the pre-clinical years? I couldn't help but notice not too many are actually taking notes, most are just soaking in the words of the lecturer, which to me indicates this may be a guest speaker or perhaps a orientation/debrief. It's not a negative to me if this is typical dress, but something about the picture says it's not your "average" lecture.

And no bookbags? 😛

Is that really how it is? It may just be a little too much to feel really out of place if I choose to dress down one day...

Plus, having a steady stock of dress clothes for every single day is a bit excessive.

I believe the first picture is from an orientation session. Here's another picture from a more normal (lunchtime) lecture.

Photo courtesy VUMC.

 

[SBuck53]

So...Anyone get an II yet?

I know it was only today that they said they would send the first batch, but....

I'm sure I'm not the only paranoid applicant here haha and I would love to hear some good news, even if it was for someone else!

 

[FatRandyJams09]

So...Anyone get an II yet?

I know it was only today that they said they would send the first batch, but....

I'm sure I'm not the only paranoid applicant here haha and I would love to hear some good news, even if it was for someone else!

I feel your pain. I have been refreshing the forum every 10 minutes since I woke up this morning looking for an interview invite! However, I think I stand little chance since I live in Tennessee and Vandy is cutting their interview numbers in half according to what I have read above 👎

 

[PreMedOrDead]

I believe the first picture is from an orientation session. Here's another picture from a more normal (lunchtime) lecture.

Photo courtesy VUMC.

This looks much better! 🙂👍

 

[MD22412]

Application was received July 17th e-mail. Any idea when we get the chance to complete the secondary? Mt. Sinai's was pretty recent. Is this school like that?

 

[Fivo]

Application was received July 17th e-mail. Any idea when we get the chance to complete the secondary? Mt. Sinai's was pretty recent. Is this school like that?

It's hard to say. Mt Sinai took a bit to send out a secondary a little later than most for me as well. But remember that Sinai automatically sends out secondaries while Vanderbilt screens (heavily from what I've read). So if they are screening, then it's possible a secondary may never come 🙁

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Application was received July 17th e-mail. Any idea when we get the chance to complete the secondary? Mt. Sinai's was pretty recent. Is this school like that?

7/12 here, no word from Vandy yet.

>3.8
>35
Pretty strong ECs and LOR

 

[coolster0040]

7/12 here, no word from Vandy yet.

>3.8
>35
Pretty strong ECs and LOR

Basically same stats here and also no secondary. Should I lose hope?

 

[mairaj24]

>3.8
34R.

Nothing 🙁

 

[Trailblazingmed]

36Q, 4.0, strong extracurriculars.
first recognition was 7/12, still no secondary. OOS Ga. Gonna go off myself quietly

 

[PreMedOrDead]

36Q, 4.0, strong extracurriculars.
first recognition was 7/12, still no secondary. OOS Ga. Gonna go off myself quietly

I think most of us are still waiting.

I have nearly identical stats to you, including review date, and I've gotten nothing. Just chill out. I'm sure Vandy is swimming in a sea of applications still.

 

[Cheezhead]

I have nearly identical stats to you, including review date, and I've gotten nothing. Just chill out. I'm sure Vandy is swimming in a sea of applications still.

Also, we have to remember that a lot of schools are starting/preparing for first year orientation for the incoming medical school class. That has to slow things down as well!

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Also, we have to remember that a lot of schools are starting/preparing for first year orientation for the incoming medical school class. That has to slow things down as well!

Good point.

I expect things to really heat up in the next two weeks.

 

[eefen]

36, >3.9, good clinical ECs and LORS, OOS.....and still nada. Come on, Vandy...you're my last secondary.

 

[SBuck53]

So I have a question...

I've submitted the secondary, but am not technically "complete" yet because my LORs have not been "scanned and uploaded" yet.

However, the status page on the secondary app states that letters might not be uploaded until "the Friday before your interview" Is this a holdover from when secondary app and interview were given together? Or are secondary apps not considered "complete" until an interview offer is made?

Please help!

 

[NewYorker9]

So I have a question...

I've submitted the secondary, but am not technically "complete" yet because my LORs have not been "scanned and uploaded" yet.

However, the status page on the secondary app states that letters might not be uploaded until "the Friday before your interview" Is this a holdover from when secondary app and interview were given together? Or are secondary apps not considered "complete" until an interview offer is made?

Please help!

My guess is that is a relic from when the secondary = II. If you have submitted your letters already via AMCAS I would suggest calling admissions to see if they've received your letters and have yet to mark it as such, or if in actuality the office has not received the letters.