2012-2013 Vanderbilt University Application Thread

[carramrod06]

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Thanks, you as well!

My primary was verified in the first few days so I imagine VUSM got my PRIMARY on 06/29. Received the secondary on July 13th. I know someone who submitted their primary the same time and he got the secondary on 8/15. I also know people who submitted their primary at the same time who got it late August on this thread. So I guess what I'm saying is that it would be hard to predict when you'll get a secondary. Could be 2 weeks like it was for me or 1-2 or more months to look through your application and decide if you pass the screen.

 

[Nymphicus]

Quick question about Curriculum 2.0 - is it still H/P/F?

No, one year pre-clinical which will be P/F. I think there is a P* though which is a marginal pass but it's still very different from H/P/F.
Source: Interview day

Quickly to clarify:

P* is an internal status only and will never show up on an official transcript. It is normally at the bottom 5% of the pass range. P* can also be given for professionalism issues (rare). P* must be resolved to a P or F by the end of the year.

Example: 70% is the pass cutoff for a block, and you score 71%, 70%, and 69% for the three tests for that block. The administration notes your grade as a P* and assigns you a tutor and looks after you for a while. You improve over the next blocks and at the end of the year, the faculty note your improvement and resolve the P* to a P. From then on there is no record of P*.

Kind of wordy, sorry.

Also, there are no more honors for preclinical courses.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

My primary was verified in the first few days so I imagine VUSM got my PRIMARY on 06/29. Received the secondary on July 13th. I know someone who submitted their primary the same time and he got the secondary on 8/15. I also know people who submitted their primary at the same time who got it late August on this thread. So I guess what I'm saying is that it would be hard to predict when you'll get a secondary. Could be 2 weeks like it was for me or 1-2 or more months to look through your application and decide if you pass the screen.

It took about a month to get through the screen for me. I haven't received an interview, though.

 

[commander1]

Received a secondary invitation today (no idea when I'll have time to attack this beast)... Extremely surprised with my 3.9+ and 31R. I have seen on here that 80-90% screen out -- seriously? That can't be true. Anyone know any info on the secondaries to interview ratio?

 

[eDITN]

Received a secondary invitation today (no idea when I'll have time to attack this beast)... Extremely surprised with my 3.9+ and 31R. I have seen on here that 80-90% screen out -- seriously? That can't be true. Anyone know any info on the secondaries to interview ratio?

I believe someone said earlier in the thread that they were looking to give out around 1,000 secondaries and then 500 interviews. So, I guess about 50% of people will receive interviews.

Congrats on the secondary!

 

[commander1]

I believe someone said earlier in the thread that they were looking to give out around 1,000 secondaries and then 500 interviews. So, I guess about 50% of people will receive interviews.

Congrats on the secondary!

Thanks! I should've googled -- it's one fifth of applicants. Last year they had around 900 interviews so it seems like it would be more than a 50% chance (1/5 is a little over 1000 for Vandy, right?).

 

[eDITN]

Thanks! I should've googled -- it's one fifth of applicants. Last year they had around 900 interviews so it seems like it would be more than a 50% chance (1/5 is a little over 1000 for Vandy, right?).

Well, last year everyone who got a secondary received an interview (you only had to fill out the secondary if you were interviewing). I think they are trying to cut down on the number of total interviews to around 500 or something like that.

 

[Claudin]

So Vandy rejects via snail mail right? The reason I ask is because it's been a while since I was complete, and I haven't heard back from them yet. I'm scared that Vandy's email might have been sent to my spam folder and I might have deleted it by accident ...

 

[Nymphicus]

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine offers a variety of dual-degree options for those interested, in addition to the fully funded MSTP.

These include

M.D./J.D.
M.D./MPH
M.D./MBA (multiple tracks possible, including a healthcare business and policy track)
M.D./M.A. in Medicine, Health, and Society
M.D./M.S. in Biomedical Engineering
M.D./M.S. in Biomedical Informatics
M.D./M.Ed (from #1 ranked Peabody College of Education)
M.D./M.S. in Computer Science
M.D./M.Div.
M.D./M.T.S (Theological Studies)

More information can be found here: https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/admissions/md-dual-degrees

 

[no beans]

Nymphicus, or any others that know, can you give me the name of a nearby hotel that might have a shuttle to the medical center and perhaps have a student rate? Where do most people stay? I'm afraid I wouldn't sleep well at a student host's place so I don't want to try that. Thanks for your help!

 

[Neurophage]

Nymphicus, or any others that know, can you give me the name of a nearby hotel that might have a shuttle to the medical center and perhaps have a student rate? Where do most people stay? I'm afraid I wouldn't sleep well at a student host's place so I don't want to try that. Thanks for your help!

I'm staying at the Guesthouse Inn, which has a promotional rate for Vanderbilt interviewees of $100. They have a shuttle, but personally I'm renting a car. It's less than $20/day if you're over 25, so you come out ahead doing that instead of taking a cab to and from the airport (and also have a way to explore Nashville after the interview). Not sure how much more you'd pay if under 25.

 

[Nymphicus]

Nymphicus, or any others that know, can you give me the name of a nearby hotel that might have a shuttle to the medical center and perhaps have a student rate? Where do most people stay? I'm afraid I wouldn't sleep well at a student host's place so I don't want to try that. Thanks for your help!

Sorry I do not know. If you have particular questions like that, I reccomend you contact the admissions office or the hotel.

 

[no beans]

Thanks neurophage and Nymphicus. I will check out the Guesthouse Inn. Neurophage, good luck at your interview!

 

[NewYorker9]

After interviewing here I only have positive things to say about the program, the atmosphere at Vanderbilt is phenomenal. Nashville seems to be a truly unique city with a blend of country and sophistication (and a couple of professional sports teams). Hoping for good news from here!

 

[Nymphicus]

After interviewing here I only have positive things to say about the program, the atmosphere at Vanderbilt is phenomenal. Nashville seems to be a truly unique city with a blend of country and sophistication (and a couple of professional sports teams). Hoping for good news from here!

I'm glad you enjoyed your visit. The deans are great.

If I can ask, what did you think of the curriculum presentation and the tours?

 

[wiscolove]

They received my primary 7/26. It's been 9 weeks. I'm 99.99999999999% I didn't delete anything from my spam folder. It's more likely my rejection got lost in the mail....Anyone's secondary take this long?

 

[tonguetalker]

They received my primary 7/26. It's been 9 weeks. I'm 99.99999999999% I didn't delete anything from my spam folder. It's more likely my rejection got lost in the mail....Anyone's secondary take this long?

Mine took about 9 weeks

 

[Fuska2012]

They received my primary 7/26. It's been 9 weeks. I'm 99.99999999999% I didn't delete anything from my spam folder. It's more likely my rejection got lost in the mail....Anyone's secondary take this long?

I was verified 7/28 and I still haven't received a secondary...but haven't gotten a snail mail rejection either.... 🙁

 

[Laurlaur]

Well I'm in the same boat as many of you. I sent this email a couple of days ago:

Hello!
So it has been about 8 weeks since my primary was transmitted and I still have not heard anything either way, which I understand is probably due to the overwhelming number of applications that you have to review, so I am not concerned, but I wanted to check just in case and make sure that there is no communication that I may have missed for whatever reason. Thank you!


...No response. Why so coy Vanderbilt??? 🙁

 

[NewYorker9]

I'm glad you enjoyed your visit. The deans are great.

If I can ask, what did you think of the curriculum presentation and the tours?

The curriculum presentation was great, Dr. Rodgers explained the rationale for the changes and made me very excited to have the opportunity to be involved in such a program. It seems like Vandy is always looking to be a leader in medical education, and this is just one more way this attitude is highlighted.

In terms of the tours, I enjoyed them because there seemed to be a relatively good balance between locations spent during pre-clinical vs clincal years. That being said I would have liked to see more of the hospitals (such as Vanderbilt University Medical Center Hosptial, their cancer center, etc.) but understand there are time and ethical constraints with showing too much of the hopsital. Children's is a phenomenal center for patients and health care providers alike!

 

[scw15]

Well I'm in the same boat as many of you. I sent this email a couple of days ago:

Hello!
So it has been about 8 weeks since my primary was transmitted and I still have not heard anything either way, which I understand is probably due to the overwhelming number of applications that you have to review, so I am not concerned, but I wanted to check just in case and make sure that there is no communication that I may have missed for whatever reason. Thank you!


...No response. Why so coy Vanderbilt??? 🙁

It's been 9+ weeks since I got the verification email, so I called the admissions office about it a couple days ago. The person who answered wasn't Dr. Sagen and didn't sound like an admissions officer, and he didn't ask for my personal info. He said that it's possible they still haven't reviewed my application (...doubtful) and that I would certainly be hearing back very soon. I asked whether I would hear back via snail mail or email, and he paused, then said snail mail. That's all I got for ya.

 

[tiparalyzed]

After interviewing here I only have positive things to say about the program, the atmosphere at Vanderbilt is phenomenal. Nashville seems to be a truly unique city with a blend of country and sophistication (and a couple of professional sports teams). Hoping for good news from here!

what was the interview schedule like? i think i have a morning interview...

 

[yellowfish]

what was the interview schedule like? i think i have a morning interview...

Everyone has an interview in the morning and one in the afternoon as well. Some might have their "long" interview in the morning and others might have their "short" interview then. Inbetween there is a presentation, a tour, and lunch.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Any recent IIs? I'd feel incredibly honored to get an II here. Looks like they give them out in droves though, last one being for mid-August secondary submissions.

 

[hippocratic57]

.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Hey, can anyone share how long it took them to get a secondary invite? I got notification that Vandy recieved my primary 9/5, and still haven't heard from them. Is this a de-facto rejection or am I still early in my waiting period? Anyone who got primary receipt acknowledged around my time please chime in!

Yours Truly,
Neurotic Pre-Med who wishes he wasn't (so neurotic).

They seem to give out II and Secondaries out in waves, usually around the same time. If you submitted on 9/5, then you're not out of the running as I don't think the most recent wave has arrived

 

[Laurlaur]

Still waiting...I wonder if since I'm an undergrad here, Vanderbilt is stringing me along just in case nothing better shows up 😛 I could handle a rejection, but it's this silent limbo that's driving me crazy 🙁 [/rantover]

 

[ShenanigansMD]

Sigh... snail mail rejection pre-secondary; maybe it's an out of region thing. But the letter is printed on really cool paper! If you hold it up to the light you see the vandy logo!!!

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Sigh... snail mail rejection pre-secondary; maybe it's an out of region thing. But the letter is printed on really cool paper! If you hold it up to the light you see the vandy logo!!!

 

[Nymphicus]

Sigh... snail mail rejection pre-secondary; maybe it's an out of region thing. But the letter is printed on really cool paper! If you hold it up to the light you see the vandy logo!!!

Vanderbilt doesn't have any state or regional preference. Not sure if you were being serious or not, but just to clarify.

 

[ShenanigansMD]

Vanderbilt doesn't have any state or regional preference. Not sure if you were being serious or not, but just to clarify.

Must have been a false rumor then. That clears things up.

And I appreciate being declined sooner rather than later btw. Thanks Vandy.

 

[markyb03]

Must have been a false rumor then. That clears things up.

And I appreciate being declined sooner rather than later btw. Thanks Vandy.

My snail mail address is back at my parents house and I'm sure they are annoyed of me asking if any letters have come from vandy. Come on dream school just give me a shot!

 

[clementane]

just reread my secondary and it is really horrible. Still hoping for the best

 

[Claudin]

Sigh... snail mail rejection pre-secondary; maybe it's an out of region thing. But the letter is printed on really cool paper! If you hold it up to the light you see the vandy logo!!!

damn, rejected with a 4.0/45? no chances for me then 🙁

 

[urkillingme]

Received rejection via mail today. My parents said it looked like an invoice. Secondary in 8/29. Hoping no news was good news.

3.9
33Q

It was truly a reach. With about 105 seats in the class, I might have been dreaming. Would have been nice though. A "10" on physical science sealed the deal.

UCSF also rejected. On a positive note, I am quickly eliminating my reaches.

This is tough stuff. Estimate about 7,500 seats in the top fifty schools,

Best of luck to all.

 

[moneytree]

damn, rejected with a 4.0/45? no chances for me then 🙁

Yeah, that's not real... 🙄

 

[Taranis]

Received rejection via mail today. My parents said it looked like an invoice. Secondary in 8/29. Hoping no news was good news.

3.9
33Q

It was truly a reach. With about 105 seats in the class, I might have been dreaming. Would have been nice though. A "10" on physical science sealed the deal.

UCSF also rejected. On a positive note, I am quickly eliminating my reaches.

This is tough stuff. Estimate about 7,500 seats in the top fifty schools,

Best of luck to all.

Wait so you got rejected after submitting your secondary? This would be the first I've heard of post-secondary rejections so far.

 

[urkillingme]

No.......sorry.....still in a haze. Still focused on the UCSF rejection.....that secondary was in on 8/29. Never received a Vandy secondary. However, I will hold the rejection letter up to the light so I can see the watermark.

 

[urkillingme]

No, still in a haze from the UCSF rejection....THAT secondary was in 8/29. I never received a Vandy secondary.

 

[Claudin]

Yeah, that's not real... 🙄

oh, i should've known!

 

[Fuska2012]

My snail mail address is back at my parents house and I'm sure they are annoyed of me asking if any letters have come from vandy. Come on dream school just give me a shot!

Haha same... i've been bothering them for a while and just heard that my rejection letter came in the mail yesterday 🙁

 

[manticus]

Application Complete - 08/15
Rejection - 10/1

Good luck to everyone else!

 

[no beans]

Anyone worried about being the first class to experience the kinks in the new 1-year pre-clinical curriculum? Nymphicus, how is the 1 1/2 year curriculum going? Any problems? How receptive is the administration to feedback?

 

[clementane]

is it post-secondary? did it come as a snail mail or e-mail?

 

[clementane]

Application Complete - 08/15
Rejection - 10/1

Good luck to everyone else!

is it post-secondary? snail-mail or e-mail?
Sorry for you 🙁

 

[BoneDoc91]

On the status page it says interview invites/post secondary rejections will occur via email. Just FYI for everyone.

 

[manticus]

Pre-Secondary. Snail-mail rejection

 

[Laurlaur]

Had a letter from vandy in the mail today. Thought for sure it was the rejection I've been waiting for. Nope. Had nothing to do with admissions 🙁

 

[chasingsummers]

II by checking status! Complete 9/10

 

[PreMedOrDead]

On the status page it says interview invites/post secondary rejections will occur via email. Just FYI for everyone.

Confirmed. This was my status pre-II:

Dear [Applicant],

Thank you for submitting the Vanderbilt secondary application to the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Once your AMCAS application, Vanderbilt secondary application and letters of recommendation have been reviewed by the Interview Admissions Committee (IAC), you will receive an email from the Office of Medical School Admissions either inviting you to interview at VUSM or an email stating that the admissions process has ended. We appreciate your interest in Vanderbilt and patience with the 2013 admissions season process.