2012-2013 Virginia Commonwealth University Application Thread

[flan1234]

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They make dates available by priority level and date of app submission. Plainly put, you didn't qualify for anything before Feb so that's what they offered you. There really is no need to call them about it and you may still have a good chance if you interview well.

I didn't know this is how it works. Happy that I got an II but by the time Feb rolls around there aren't going to be many spots left. 🙁

 

[hokie2012]

How long are people making their secondary essays? It says 8000 characters max, but I seriously doubt they want an essay that long. Think it's alright if mine is only like 5000?

 

[flodhi1]

I didn't know that. So I guess I have a high priority score then if I was able to schedule my interview in September? My GPA and MCAT aren't that great to be honest.

That rule that music and I talked about seems to apply mostly to OOS applicants. IS applicants have a different situation, they get earlier interviews compared to OOS so an IS applicant might not have the strongest stats but is given priority in the interview dates due to the VA residency. With that being said I do know some IS applicants that interviewed in September with me and did not get accepted so take the interview pretty seriously, don't get nervous just be on top of your A game. In the end though the class is split almost 50-50 IS and OOS so obviously being IS only takes an applicant so far.

 

[unhistoried]

How long are people making their secondary essays? It says 8000 characters max, but I seriously doubt they want an essay that long. Think it's alright if mine is only like 5000?

Mine was ~2,500 characters and I received an interview invite.

 

[GoatMachine]

How long are people making their secondary essays? It says 8000 characters max, but I seriously doubt they want an essay that long. Think it's alright if mine is only like 5000?

Mine was ~4000 characters and I received an interview invite.

 

[cgk]

Mine was ~4000 characters and I received an interview invite.

were you IS or OOS, and what were your stats?

 

[virtuoso735]

Virtuso, are you IS? It seems being an IS applicant meant you interviewed first/earlier so I'm sure that would help too.

That rule that music and I talked about seems to apply mostly to OOS applicants. IS applicants have a different situation, they get earlier interviews compared to OOS so an IS applicant might not have the strongest stats but is given priority in the interview dates due to the VA residency. With that being said I do know some IS applicants that interviewed in September with me and did not get accepted so take the interview pretty seriously, don't get nervous just be on top of your A game. In the end though the class is split almost 50-50 IS and OOS so obviously being IS only takes an applicant so far.

I'm from California and have no connection to Virginia. I do have some desirable aspects to my application despite my lower stats, but I would be surprised if I were considered higher priority. We'll see how it works out, I guess.

 

[flodhi1]

I'm from California and have no connection to Virginia. I do have some desirable aspects to my application despite my lower stats, but I would be surprised if I were considered higher priority. We'll see how it works out, I guess.

VCU doesn't care about stats like some other schools do, they truly have a holistic approach. Even if you have slightly low stats but have wonderful life experiences, ECs, amazing LORs and an application that truly shows you want to be a physician for the "right reason" they will not only give you a chance but also give you priority over others. For you to get an early interview as an OOS applicant especially from California is a very good sign. Like I said stay positive and show them that you really are a good fit not just for the school but most importantly the city of Richmond. A lot of folks in Virginia especially Central, Southern Virginia rely on VCU for it's strong academic and medical support so VCU is huge on community service/serving the people. Any way best of luck 👍

 

[virtuoso735]

VCU doesn't care about stats like some other schools do, they truly have a holistic approach. Even if you have slightly low stats but have wonderful life experiences, ECs, amazing LORs and an application that truly shows you want to be a physician for the "right reason" they will not only give you a chance but also give you priority over others. For you to get an early interview as an OOS applicant especially from California is a very good sign. Like I said stay positive and show them that you really are a good fit not just for the school but most importantly the city of Richmond. A lot of folks in Virginia especially Central, Southern Virginia rely on VCU for it's strong academic and medical support so VCU is huge on community service/serving the people. Any way best of luck 👍

Thanks, flodhi1, that makes sense!

How would you accomplish the bold? I'm honestly not too familiar with Virginia. Are there many underserved populations in Richmond?

 

[music2doc]

Thanks, flodhi1, that makes sense!

How would you accomplish the bold? I'm honestly not too familiar with Virginia. Are there many underserved populations in Richmond?

YES! (And in southern VA in general.)

They really do value fit over stats. If you have a hx of working with the underserved plus a desire to continue doing so (and expanding upon that service through your medical knowledge) and can express that effectively, you will be looked upon in a very positive light. Clinical experience is also highly prized here. I wouldn't be surprised if 50% of our class had some paid clinical or clinical research experience (e.g., former Scribe, CNA/NA, EMT, xyz Tech, medical reception, clinical research asst, etc.) Of one of my small groups (we have a bunch of small group-style teaching integrated into the curriculum, which will be increasing exponentially next year), 8 of the 10 are non-traditional in some way and or another, while in another small group of mine, there are a couple of scribes and a couple of EMTs.

 

[flodhi1]

Thanks, flodhi1, that makes sense!

How would you accomplish the bold? I'm honestly not too familiar with Virginia. Are there many underserved populations in Richmond?

Richmond has one of the highest child poverty rates in the state (Richmond children under poverty 38 %, Virginia state children under poverty 13 %), the median income of families is nothing compared to the richer areas of Virginia such as up north close to DC, Loudoun county and Fairfax county (two of the top 3 richest counties in the entire US). The median income for those households in two counties is 115k a year and I think Richmond is at 36k a year. There's huge populations of underserved and disadvantaged individuals in Richmond, folks that can't afford health insurance. VCU has provided these types of individuals, families and many more with quality healthcare. In Richmond City, the rate of those living in poverty is 25.8% compared to the nations which is 15 % that alone speaks a lot. There's major health and social economical disparities in the city. Quite frankly man these statistics of Richmond are not only depressing but heart breaking. You can start off by asking yourself, "What am I future Dr. virtuoso735 going to do about all of this?" If you can start by answering those questions not just to your interviewer but most importantly to yourself then you're on the right path. No one is asking you to fix the problem but many are trying to see what is your plan since if you do decide to come you will one day be the future of medicine bred from Richmond.

The way to accomplish the bolded statement is to use your ECs and gather up a lot of information about VCU and Richmond. I'm sure you have strong ECs, try to integrate your past extracurricular activities into your future plans. I don't know if you're passionate about disadvantaged communities but if you are, you could talk about how you would like to work with communities and that's something you're going to have to do during your interview. Look up programs that VCU has to offer, message medical students from VCU ask them about community service that's going on around VCU. See my passion is in primary care and so I don't want to start talking about primary care and all that if you're interested in research or becoming a plastic surgeon. Therefore, it's best that you gather a lot of information according to your needs and desires before coming to interview. If you don't know much about VCU then the interview is just going to end up being a disaster.

Don't get me wrong VCU interviewers are very nice and polite but that doesn't mean they aren't going to pay attention to the "Why VCU?" This is why as an interviewee it's essential you recon for information to build up your arsenal. You don't want your interviewer standing in front of the committee saying, "Yeah the guys awesome and great but I don't really know why he picked VCU over the other schools other than he just wants to be a doctor". Being a fit for VCU is NOT about just being a doctor, it's more about what you can do as a doctor. What you want to do as a doctor for Richmond. I literally laugh when I hear people with the typical BS, "Oh i want to be a doctor to save lives and that's why I picked VCU" okay... that's great but you can do that at any other medical school or you could save lives in other professions. You have to have a story, a reason that you can fight for. I never wanted to be a doctor, I even dreaded the idea but like I said I had a story/ a reason for why I picked medicine and it worked out. Just be yourself, I did the same I even told them that hey I never even wanted to be a doctor in the first place till XYZ happened. If you can be genuine, they will see that and appreciate you for who you are.

Make yourself unique, if you know there were another 6000 applicants or 1000 interviewees who wrote or said the same thing ("I want to save lives") then don't say it because it's just going to be a waste of time, if you have a life experience where you did actually save a life then definitely talk about it and most importantly what you learned from it. Find unique things about the school that will truly impress not only your interviewer but the committee. I hope that was some what helpful, if you need anything else just message any of the students, everyone is willing to help. There are VCU medical students on SDN, you could ask the school for student housing and get a couple students numbers that way. Mostly though you need to sit down and read a lot about the school. They have tons of information available on their website, it's pretty decent stuff.

 

[NCPremed]

flodhi, this is a bit of a random question, but are you by any chance doing the health professions scholarship program through the military? I ask simply because your avatar is a US Marine Corps patch.

 

[mwall003]

has anyone scheduled for the INOVA tour? If so, or for those who have gone in the past, I plan on wearing full interview suit. Will I be overdressed?

 

[flodhi1]

flodhi, this is a bit of a random question, but are you by any chance doing the health professions scholarship program through the military? I ask simply because your avatar is a US Marine Corps patch.

I did not, the Marine corp avatar is only there because I served as an enlisted. I would love to work in military medicine but my passion lies more in working with disadvantaged communities so I chose not to apply. Sorry I couldn't be much help. I have some friends and fellow classmates that are doing the health professions scholarship program so if you want me to ask them any questions let me know.

 

[NCPremed]

I did not, the Marine corp avatar is only there because I served as an enlisted. I would love to work in military medicine but my passion lies more in working with disadvantaged communities so I chose not to apply. Sorry I couldn't be much help. I have some friends and fellow classmates that are doing the health professions scholarship program so if you want me to ask them any questions let me know.

Thanks for the response! If I go to VCU, I will be out of state, and from what I understand, it is difficult/impossible to get in-state tuition after the first year. As such, I am considering joining the military to pay for medical school (I have had a long-standing interest in doing so...my decision to join the military won't be solely a financial one). Mostly what I've heard is that the HPSP is a great program during school (everything is paid for AND you get a stipend...and I've heard rumors of a $20,000 sign-on bonus), but after school it can be a nightmare if you are unlucky.

Could you maybe comment though, on how VCU students afford school? Do you guys mostly take out loans? Is there much institutional aid available? Are there any secrets (eg, reduced tuition for doing a primary care track) that we may not have heard about?

 

[flodhi1]

Thanks for the response! If I go to VCU, I will be out of state, and from what I understand, it is difficult/impossible to get in-state tuition after the first year. As such, I am considering joining the military to pay for medical school (I have had a long-standing interest in doing so...my decision to join the military won't be solely a financial one). Mostly what I've heard is that the HPSP is a great program during school (everything is paid for AND you get a stipend...and I've heard rumors of a $20,000 sign-on bonus), but after school it can be a nightmare if you are unlucky.

Could you maybe comment though, on how VCU students afford school? Do you guys mostly take out loans? Is there much institutional aid available? Are there any secrets (eg, reduced tuition for doing a primary care track) that we may not have heard about?

The military route is great but you should be fully aware despite what recruiters tells you that in the end the military decides what residency you go into. Yes most of the times they let you go into on of your top choices and let you choose but it should also be made clear that if they are in need of a certain field well they are going to push you towards it. They are reasonable though and don't "force" things upon you but don't expect to surely have your first choice after medical school. If you're cool with that idea and possibly being deployed in the future then why not, it will be a learning experience. They do give out $20,000 sign-on bonuses and I know a couple who got them. Like you said though after medical school if you're unlucky military medicine truly can be your worst nightmare. I'm personally taking out student loans and not even thinking about it. They do have primary care routes available at VCU and VCU does a pretty good job of giving out scholarships. Sometimes you don't even have to apply for them.

 

[music2doc]

Richmond has one of the highest child poverty rates in the state (Richmond children under poverty 38 %, Virginia state children under poverty 13 %), the median income of families is nothing compared to the richer areas of Virginia such as up north close to DC, Loudoun county and Fairfax county (two of the top 3 richest counties in the entire US). The median income for those households in two counties is 115k a year and I think Richmond is at 36k a year. There's huge populations of underserved and disadvantaged individuals in Richmond, folks that can't afford health insurance. VCU has provided these types of individuals, families and many more with quality healthcare. In Richmond City, the rate of those living in poverty is 25.8% compared to the nations which is 15 % that alone speaks a lot. There's major health and social economical disparities in the city. Quite frankly man these statistics of Richmond are not only depressing but heart breaking. You can start off by asking yourself, "What am I future Dr. virtuoso735 going to do about all of this?" If you can start by answering those questions not just to your interviewer but most importantly to yourself then you're on the right path. No one is asking you to fix the problem but many are trying to see what is your plan since if you do decide to come you will one day be the future of medicine bred from Richmond.

The way to accomplish the bolded statement is to use your ECs and gather up a lot of information about VCU and Richmond. I'm sure you have strong ECs, try to integrate your past extracurricular activities into your future plans. I don't know if you're passionate about disadvantaged communities but if you are, you could talk about how you would like to work with communities and that's something you're going to have to do during your interview. Look up programs that VCU has to offer, message medical students from VCU ask them about community service that's going on around VCU. See my passion is in primary care and so I don't want to start talking about primary care and all that if you're interested in research or becoming a plastic surgeon. Therefore, it's best that you gather a lot of information according to your needs and desires before coming to interview. If you don't know much about VCU then the interview is just going to end up being a disaster.

Don't get me wrong VCU interviewers are very nice and polite but that doesn't mean they aren't going to pay attention to the "Why VCU?" This is why as an interviewee it's essential you recon for information to build up your arsenal. You don't want your interviewer standing in front of the committee saying, "Yeah the guys awesome and great but I don't really know why he picked VCU over the other schools other than he just wants to be a doctor". Being a fit for VCU is NOT about just being a doctor, it's more about what you can do as a doctor. What you want to do as a doctor for Richmond. I literally laugh when I hear people with the typical BS, "Oh i want to be a doctor to save lives and that's why I picked VCU" okay... that's great but you can do that at any other medical school or you could save lives in other professions. You have to have a story, a reason that you can fight for. I never wanted to be a doctor, I even dreaded the idea but like I said I had a story/ a reason for why I picked medicine and it worked out. Just be yourself, I did the same I even told them that hey I never even wanted to be a doctor in the first place till XYZ happened. If you can be genuine, they will see that and appreciate you for who you are.

Make yourself unique, if you know there were another 6000 applicants or 1000 interviewees who wrote or said the same thing ("I want to save lives") then don't say it because it's just going to be a waste of time, if you have a life experience where you did actually save a life then definitely talk about it and most importantly what you learned from it. Find unique things about the school that will truly impress not only your interviewer but the committee. I hope that was some what helpful, if you need anything else just message any of the students, everyone is willing to help. There are VCU medical students on SDN, you could ask the school for student housing and get a couple students numbers that way. Mostly though you need to sit down and read a lot about the school. They have tons of information available on their website, it's pretty decent stuff.

Some serious passion here, man! That's awesome. I'm there with you on that though and I do think most of our class would agree with much of what you're saying. Btw are you i2crp our fmstat by any chance? Anyway, well said! The heart of VCU is Richmond and the rural poor of VA.

 

[flodhi1]

Some serious passion here, man! That's awesome. I'm there with you on that though and I do think most of our class would agree with much of what you're saying. Btw are you i2crp our fmstat by any chance? Anyway, well said! The heart of VCU is Richmond and the rural poor of VA.

I applied to Fmstat which is pretty competitive and didn't make it. As you may know they only accepted 6 out of the 107 medical students that applied.

 

[autumnempress]

Is it too late to apply to VCU? I want to add them to my schools list but saw that they screen....Thanks!

 

[soggydog]

Is it too late to apply to VCU? I want to add them to my schools list but saw that they screen....Thanks!

All I can tell you so far is that VCU takes awhile to mark you as complete. I submitted about a month ago and still not complete.

 

[music2doc]

I applied to Fmstat which is pretty competitive and didn't make it. As you may know they only accepted 6 out of the 107 medical students that applied.

Maybe you should apply I2CRP. I honestly thought it was a better program, much less restrictive with similar benefits. They have some 8ish slots open for Nov because they asked a lot of the summer applicants to reapply in the fall. (I didn't apply to the fmstat program as I had no interest in it. I am in I2CRP.)

 

[dirkenator]

All I can tell you so far is that VCU takes awhile to mark you as complete. I submitted about a month ago and still not complete.

FILE STATUS: COMPLETE

Is this status based on them receiving your secondary, app fee, and LOR?

 

[soggydog]

FILE STATUS:COMPLETE

Is this status based on them receiving your secondary, app fee, and LOR?

When did you submit? Are you IS?

 

[flodhi1]

Maybe you should apply I2CRP. I honestly thought it was a better program, much less restrictive with similar benefits. They have some 8ish slots open for Nov because they asked a lot of the summer applicants to reapply in the fall. (I didn't apply to the fmstat program as I had no interest in it. I am in I2CRP.)

I will definitely look into that. Thank you!

 

[music2doc]

I will definitely look into that. Thank you!

You're welcome. It all depends on what you want out of it. I liked the fact that they had tracks (incl. international and urban, which are my areas of interest) and that they customize your FCM preceptorships (so you don't get placed w just anyone -- you get long-term preceptors they've worked with and know well enough to be confident you'll get the right kind of early training for students desiring to work with underserved populations). The journal club meetings are also really good and you get preferential consideration for HOMBRE. Yet there is no commitment to primary care (strong encouragement, yes, but no commitment per se). Like fmSTAT, you work with a faculty mentor during M4 to do a scholarly/community project in a target community (of your interest). fmSTAT is definitely more intensely Family Medicine. I personally don't want to do Fam Med but I want to work with underserved populations and, specifically, serve internationally.

Anyway, for all you applicants interested in what makes MCV special, one of my favorite things here I wish I had known about earlier (because it would have put MCV at the VERY top of my list, beyond a lot of much more highly ranked schools) is the International Trauma Systems Development Program here. It is an awesome program here that was originally built by a group of students and is now a developed and staffed program at MCV curently working in Ecuador (long-term) to improve the way trauma and emergency care are handled there. Check out the website as I cannot give it justice here.

 

[music2doc]

As an FYI for anyone applying here, MCV will be starting mandatory drug screening for M1s next year. Good luck with your interviews!

 

[virtuoso735]

Richmond has one of the highest child poverty rates in the state (Richmond children under poverty 38 %, Virginia state children under poverty 13 %), the median income of families is nothing compared to the richer areas of Virginia such as up north close to DC, Loudoun county and Fairfax county (two of the top 3 richest counties in the entire US). The median income for those households in two counties is 115k a year and I think Richmond is at 36k a year. There's huge populations of underserved and disadvantaged individuals in Richmond, folks that can't afford health insurance. VCU has provided these types of individuals, families and many more with quality healthcare. In Richmond City, the rate of those living in poverty is 25.8% compared to the nations which is 15 % that alone speaks a lot. There's major health and social economical disparities in the city. Quite frankly man these statistics of Richmond are not only depressing but heart breaking. You can start off by asking yourself, "What am I future Dr. virtuoso735 going to do about all of this?" If you can start by answering those questions not just to your interviewer but most importantly to yourself then you're on the right path. No one is asking you to fix the problem but many are trying to see what is your plan since if you do decide to come you will one day be the future of medicine bred from Richmond.

The way to accomplish the bolded statement is to use your ECs and gather up a lot of information about VCU and Richmond. I'm sure you have strong ECs, try to integrate your past extracurricular activities into your future plans. I don't know if you're passionate about disadvantaged communities but if you are, you could talk about how you would like to work with communities and that's something you're going to have to do during your interview. Look up programs that VCU has to offer, message medical students from VCU ask them about community service that's going on around VCU. See my passion is in primary care and so I don't want to start talking about primary care and all that if you're interested in research or becoming a plastic surgeon. Therefore, it's best that you gather a lot of information according to your needs and desires before coming to interview. If you don't know much about VCU then the interview is just going to end up being a disaster.

Don't get me wrong VCU interviewers are very nice and polite but that doesn't mean they aren't going to pay attention to the "Why VCU?" This is why as an interviewee it's essential you recon for information to build up your arsenal. You don't want your interviewer standing in front of the committee saying, "Yeah the guys awesome and great but I don't really know why he picked VCU over the other schools other than he just wants to be a doctor". Being a fit for VCU is NOT about just being a doctor, it's more about what you can do as a doctor. What you want to do as a doctor for Richmond. I literally laugh when I hear people with the typical BS, "Oh i want to be a doctor to save lives and that's why I picked VCU" okay... that's great but you can do that at any other medical school or you could save lives in other professions. You have to have a story, a reason that you can fight for. I never wanted to be a doctor, I even dreaded the idea but like I said I had a story/ a reason for why I picked medicine and it worked out. Just be yourself, I did the same I even told them that hey I never even wanted to be a doctor in the first place till XYZ happened. If you can be genuine, they will see that and appreciate you for who you are.

Make yourself unique, if you know there were another 6000 applicants or 1000 interviewees who wrote or said the same thing ("I want to save lives") then don't say it because it's just going to be a waste of time, if you have a life experience where you did actually save a life then definitely talk about it and most importantly what you learned from it. Find unique things about the school that will truly impress not only your interviewer but the committee. I hope that was some what helpful, if you need anything else just message any of the students, everyone is willing to help. There are VCU medical students on SDN, you could ask the school for student housing and get a couple students numbers that way. Mostly though you need to sit down and read a lot about the school. They have tons of information available on their website, it's pretty decent stuff.

Thanks so much for this flodhi1! I will definitely do my research on VCU and convince them to the best of my ability that I would be a good fit for them. I am interested in serving the disadvantaged, and am interested to going into primary care, so maybe that's why I got an interview. I also come from a disadvantaged background, so that probably helps as well. Can't wait for my interview here next week!

 

[virtuoso735]

Also, does anyone have recommendations for a hotel close by to the school that isn't too expensive?

 

[Frazier]

Also, does anyone have recommendations for a hotel close by to the school that isn't too expensive?

commonwealth park suites

advance purchase rate is only $100/night. decent place.
major selling point is that it is only a 5-6 minute walk to the school.

 

[bearofthesnow]

Last week I received a MAY status and got a II today! I'm IS, 33Q and 3.95. Unfortunately, my only options are in Feb and March :/

 

[Buggsy]

Interview Invite Today. Scheuled for the 16th.
I got the further status I believe a week ago.

 

[metaphase]

Last week I received a MAY status and got a II today! I'm IS, 33Q and 3.95. Unfortunately, my only options are in Feb and March :/

Holy Cow. They're filled until February and March already?😱
I just got the "further" status. Guess I won't get too hopeful.

 

[Buggsy]

Holy Cow. They're filled until February and March already?😱
I just got the "further" status. Guess I won't get too hopeful.

It told me there were no more interiew slots availiable when I went to schedule today. Just checked back about 30 minutes ago and there were two, one for the 16th an one for the 31st

 

[williamiv4]

For those with recent II when we're u complete and how soon after that did u get the status update

 

[NCPremed]

For those with recent II when we're u complete and how soon after that did u get the status update

I submitted my secondary on 8/6, got the "MAY" status on 9/4, and received the interview invite on 9/22. See MDApps for profile, but to summarize: OOS, 33 ~3.75.

 

[Buggsy]

For those with recent II when we're u complete and how soon after that did u get the status update

Complete: September 6th Further status: September 23 Interview Invite: Today (October 1st) interiew date: October 16th

Instate

 

[Bumbl3b33]

I applied to Fmstat which is pretty competitive and didn't make it. As you may know they only accepted 6 out of the 107 medical students that applied.

Wow, I didn't know it was that competitive....What have you heard about the fmSTAT program from those who are in it? Good, bad?

 

[hmhoos]

So I just got this status update. Is this the post-interview status update they were talking about?

"The Admissions Committee has met to discuss your file. Your application is being placed on hold for action at a later date. We anticipate making offers October 16, December 15, February 1, and March 16. Only offers of admission will be made on the dates above.

You will receive no further communication from us concerning your hold status. The next status change you will be contacted about will be to offer you a position in the class, to notify you that you have been placed on the alternate list (the alternate list is formulated in late-March), or to notify you that the Committee will no longer be considering your file.

We thank you for your interest in our school."

 

[GoatMachine]

So I just got this status update. Is this the post-interview status update they were talking about?

"The Admissions Committee has met to discuss your file. Your application is being placed on hold for action at a later date. We anticipate making offers October 16, December 15, February 1, and March 16. Only offers of admission will be made on the dates above.

You will receive no further communication from us concerning your hold status. The next status change you will be contacted about will be to offer you a position in the class, to notify you that you have been placed on the alternate list (the alternate list is formulated in late-March), or to notify you that the Committee will no longer be considering your file.

We thank you for your interest in our school."

Yes. Most people will get this status update.

 

[LOSAR]

So I just got this status update. Is this the post-interview status update they were talking about?

"The Admissions Committee has met to discuss your file. Your application is being placed on hold for action at a later date. We anticipate making offers October 16, December 15, February 1, and March 16. Only offers of admission will be made on the dates above.

You will receive no further communication from us concerning your hold status. The next status change you will be contacted about will be to offer you a position in the class, to notify you that you have been placed on the alternate list (the alternate list is formulated in late-March), or to notify you that the Committee will no longer be considering your file.

We thank you for your interest in our school."

When were you complete?

 

[medicineman2015]

So I just got this status update. Is this the post-interview status update they were talking about?

"The Admissions Committee has met to discuss your file. Your application is being placed on hold for action at a later date. We anticipate making offers October 16, December 15, February 1, and March 16. Only offers of admission will be made on the dates above.

You will receive no further communication from us concerning your hold status. The next status change you will be contacted about will be to offer you a position in the class, to notify you that you have been placed on the alternate list (the alternate list is formulated in late-March), or to notify you that the Committee will no longer be considering your file.

We thank you for your interest in our school."

Just got this status too. Interviewed 9/18. I assume it is normal and simply means that the committee has met and discussed our files. The decisions will come on one of the dates they listed.... Making me crazy knowing they may have already decided on my file and can't tell me yet!!

Good luck!

 

[flodhi1]

Wow, I didn't know it was that competitive....What have you heard about the fmSTAT program from those who are in it? Good, bad?

Everyone in the program seems to be happy but I never asked them about details. I will ask and let you know.

 

[Bumbl3b33]

Everyone in the program seems to be happy but I never asked them about details. I will ask and let you know.

that would be AWESOME!! thank you. I got a good impression from the interview day and honestly it is the only reason why i would go to vcu

 

[ReptarBar]

my brother goes to vcu med school. am i screwed if i turn the secondary in today? i'm not sure why i waited so long...the essay is the longest out of any school's secondary, though.

do they value legacy applicants?

 

[dvorjak]

OOS hoping for an interview. I know I have a long ways ahead of me since I just became complete on 9/27. Keeping fingers crossed.

3.67/34 Good luck to everyone else!

 

[Cuongoff]

I just got an interview invite...and was lucky enough to get it scheduled on Nov. 28th. This is nerve racking

 

[Deetss]

Im interviewing soon and was wondering if I made a mistake taking an interview in the afternoon. I was thinking I would know more about the school after the tour and stuff, but I am afraid that I also will be super tired and under perform.

 

[Goobs]

Im interviewing soon and was wondering if I made a mistake taking an interview in the afternoon. I was thinking I would know more about the school after the tour and stuff, but I am afraid that I also will be super tired and under perform.

Personally, I prefer afternoon interviews because it allows you to see more of what the school has to offer and you can develop better questions. I really don't think it's all that tiring just touring the campus and meeting with students/listening to presentations for a few hours.

 

[deleted454156]

Personally, I prefer afternoon interviews because it allows you to see more of what the school has to offer and you can develop better questions. I really don't think it's all that tiring just touring the campus and meeting with students/listening to presentations for a few hours.

I just get really tired in the afternoon after lunch so I'm definitely a morning interview person. But either way should be fine, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Deetss]

thanks guys, really appreciate the input!