2012-2013 Virginia Commonwealth University Application Thread

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Thanks for that link. That's probably one of the most valuable things I've seen on here.

i'm pretty sure if you asked any of those '100 questions' you would be leave a pretty bad taste in the interviewer's mouth or just sound like you're trying to box them into a corner
 
Received the MAY status this evening, complete about a week ago. Best of luck everyone!
 
Yesterday I was notified that my application status had changed to complete. Today I got another notification saying my status has changed again, but when I went to check it, nothing seems to have changed. Anyone know what the deal is with that?
 
i'm pretty sure if you asked any of those '100 questions' you would be leave a pretty bad taste in the interviewer's mouth or just sound like you're trying to box them into a corner


They're common interview questions you might BE asked, lol. I'd expect that poster to figure out some questions to MCV (and every other school) on his/her own. The questions you ask tell the interviewer a lot about you (as well as your interview prep).
 
They're common interview questions you might BE asked, lol. I'd expect that poster to figure out some questions to MCV (and every other school) on his/her own. The questions you ask tell the interviewer a lot about you (as well as your interview prep).

"31 Questions I Wish I Had Asked"

27. Does this school provide, or does the student pay for, vaccinations against Hepatitis B or prophylactic AZT treatment in case of a needle-stick or accident?

29. May I see a list of residency programs to which this school's recent graduates were accepted?

31. Would I be happy at this school (for at least the next four years)?

I just saw those and drew my conclusion. I would never ask those questions. Pre-meds can't evaluate match lists, I guarantee it.
 
Hello, I was wondering what is consensus on length of secondary essay.
Its 8000Char limit but what would be a good length? I have about 2300 chars currently.
Thanks in advance
 
Hello, I was wondering what is consensus on length of secondary essay.
Its 8000Char limit but what would be a good length? I have about 2300 chars currently.
Thanks in advance

Longer than that would be good but not too long. No consensus....

"31 Questions I Wish I Had Asked"

27. Does this school provide, or does the student pay for, vaccinations against Hepatitis B or prophylactic AZT treatment in case of a needle-stick or accident?

29. May I see a list of residency programs to which this school's recent graduates were accepted?

31. Would I be happy at this school (for at least the next four years)?

I just saw those and drew my conclusion. I would never ask those questions. Pre-meds can't evaluate match lists, I guarantee it.


31 is a good question (probably the most important question of all, actually). 27 is okay but maybe a bit weird to ask in the interview...sounds like someone had a bad experience and contributed it.... 29 would be difficult to evaluate as a premed but if you knew you wanted to go back to, say, CA, it'd be good to know that they send students there regularly. They are all valid questions, just maybe not ones I'd ask in the interview proper.
 
Does anyone know how to apply for the FAP waiver for the VCU secondary? I don't see it mentioned anywhere...
 
MAY status here a couple of days ago. OOS and complete 8/13. Last year I had the FURTHER status and didn't receive an II so hopefully this year goes better.
 
Submitted this secondary mid-July and have been complete for three weeks with no word. Does this mean a rejection? Everybody else seems to be getting may and further statuses, but no hard rejections. Im guessing they just keep those that they are going to reject hanging and submit these rejections in waves.
 
Submitted this secondary mid-July and have been complete for three weeks with no word. Does this mean a rejection? Everybody else seems to be getting may and further statuses, but no hard rejections. Im guessing they just keep those that they are going to reject hanging and submit these rejections in waves.

They have rejected a few people already in this thread.
 
Still am not complete here after submitting 7/13. Online it says they've only downloaded two of my letters. I've sent an email to admissions.

Have been really busy and just got time today to check my status at all schools. So much for applying early here...
 
Does anyone know how to apply for the FAP waiver for the VCU secondary? I don't see it mentioned anywhere...

Mine automatically waived the requirement. I didn't have to do anything.


Also, MD/PhD invite yesterday! IS (not that that really matters for MD/PhD), GPA 3.8+, MCAT 30+
 
Finally marked complete. All my stuff was in 8/1. I suppose this is a bad sign regarding my chances at this school. Oh well.
 
Finally marked complete. All my stuff was in 8/1. I suppose this is a bad sign regarding my chances at this school. Oh well.

....no. Being marked complete ad when u are marked complete depends on the schools admissions working fast enough. It says nothing of ur chances. What will tell about your chances is ur status update
 
Many in-state applicants with a "further" status have gotten an interview invite 3 days later
.

How about OOS'? I've just got the further status
 
.

How about OOS'? I've just got the further status

Some OOS have too including myself and a few others. My invite was about a week after the further status.


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Heck yes!!! II yesterday after receiving MAY status 5 days ago!!!!!
 
Did anyone else get the following update?:

"The committee's file review indicates that they would like to consider your file further. We are now in the process of scheduling interviews and will continue to do so through February. Unfortunately, the committee indicates interest in far more candidates than we are able to interview. Since we are dependent on the Committee member's schedules for interview spaces, we are unable to predict when or if we will be able to schedule you this year. Please continue to check this site to learn when further action has been taken."

I don't know if this is good or bad!
 
Did anyone else get the following update?:

"The committee's file review indicates that they would like to consider your file further. We are now in the process of scheduling interviews and will continue to do so through February. Unfortunately, the committee indicates interest in far more candidates than we are able to interview. Since we are dependent on the Committee member's schedules for interview spaces, we are unable to predict when or if we will be able to schedule you this year. Please continue to check this site to learn when further action has been taken."

I don't know if this is good or bad!

It's good
 
My school uses veCollect to submit LORs. Nearly every school that I've applied to has matched my secondary with letters. It's been almost 2 weeks and I'm still incomplete here. How long did it take others to have their letters matched to their application?
 
Did anyone else get the following update?:

"The committee's file review indicates that they would like to consider your file further. We are now in the process of scheduling interviews and will continue to do so through February. Unfortunately, the committee indicates interest in far more candidates than we are able to interview. Since we are dependent on the Committee member's schedules for interview spaces, we are unable to predict when or if we will be able to schedule you this year. Please continue to check this site to learn when further action has been taken."

I don't know if this is good or bad!

I got accepted with that same status so don't fret. I would explain it more but have an exam in less than 12 hours. Best of luck and pray for me lol
 
Did anyone else get the following update?:

"The committee's file review indicates that they would like to consider your file further. We are now in the process of scheduling interviews and will continue to do so through February. Unfortunately, the committee indicates interest in far more candidates than we are able to interview. Since we are dependent on the Committee member's schedules for interview spaces, we are unable to predict when or if we will be able to schedule you this year. Please continue to check this site to learn when further action has been taken."

I don't know if this is good or bad!

read the thread


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I got accepted with that same status so don't fret. I would explain it more but have an exam in less than 12 hours. Best of luck and pray for me lol

Good luck! And...wow... you're right.... 10 hours...here goes nothing! See you at 8 o' clock!
 
Finally marked complete. All my stuff was in 8/1. I suppose this is a bad sign regarding my chances at this school. Oh well.

I submitted mine on the same day, 8/1 and got my "complete" status today (8/23). Funny thing was my app also showed that they got my committee letter today too :/

Also... based on what I've read throughout the thread so far, am I the only person who wrote a supplemental essay <2000 characters? I wrote about 1300 characters worth 😵.

OOS: 3.78c, 30 MCAT (12VR, 9PS, 9BS)
 
No they are not, after getting the status "complete" on their status check page I noticed that it also says in bold print "please do not call the admissions office requesting special dates".
 
Finally marked complete. All my stuff was in 8/1. I suppose this is a bad sign regarding my chances at this school. Oh well.

Not at all. VCU took forever (almost 3 weeks) to match my letters to my application as they were suddenly flooded with a big flood of applications and had to devote time to that instead. It's still early in the process, so don't worry. I found this out after e-mailing them in the hopes that my e-mail would spur them to just quickly check my application and take a few seconds to add my letters (this worked for somebody else..alas, not for me 😛)
 
Got this email after submitting my secondary last weekend:

"The committee's file review indicates that they are interested in your candidacy. However, due to the increase in the applicant pool this year, it is clear we MAY be unable to interview all the candidates at your priority score. If we do find that we are unable to grant an interview, you will be notified by e-mail in March."

Is this a good update or a bad one?
 
I just got this update:

"Your file is complete, and has been forwarded to the Admissions Committee for further decison." (typo and all)

This isn't the further status everyone has been posting about, right? Has my status actually not changed?
 
Got this email after submitting my secondary last weekend:

"The committee's file review indicates that they are interested in your candidacy. However, due to the increase in the applicant pool this year, it is clear we MAY be unable to interview all the candidates at your priority score. If we do find that we are unable to grant an interview, you will be notified by e-mail in March."

Is this a good update or a bad one?

I read through most of the thread for VCU the other night and from what I can tell it's a good thing, especially for OOS. I think... Post #150 on page 3 (last comment on the page) should offer more info too?
 
I read through most of the thread for VCU the other night and from what I can tell it's a good thing, especially for OOS. I think... Post #150 on page 3 (last comment on the page) should offer more info too?

Thanks. I just finished reading the last 6 or so pages of the thread and it seems to be a good thing, although the "MAY be unable to interview all the candidates at your priority score" part is a little disconcerting, considering that my stats (3.4 GPA/31S) are quite a bit lower than the stats of those that have been rejected. Plus I'm OOS, but I do come from a disadvantaged background and went to a top 5 undergrad, so maybe they look beyond numbers.

I'll hope for the best, and expect the worst then (no interview invite).
 
I think it's time for a re-posting of this from page 4, since it can be hard to find. It's a nice summary of the different statuses and what they mean.

"Application Status:

1) "The Committee's file review indicates that they are very interested in your candidacy. There is another increase in the applicant pool this year, but we are trying to get all candidates at your priority score interviewed as soon as possible. Please watch for an e-mail from us regarding a possible interview date."

2) "The committee's file review indicates that they are interested in your candidacy. However, due to the increase in the applicant pool this year, it is clear we MAY be unable to interview all the candidates at your priority score. If we do find that we are able to grant an interview you will be notified by e-mail."

3) "The committee's file review indicates that they would like to consider your file further. We are now in the process of scheduling interviews and will continue to do so through February. Unfortunately, the committee indicates interest in far more candidates than we are able to interview. Since we are dependent on the Committee member's schedules for interview spaces, we are unable to predict when or if we will be able to schedule you this year. Please continue to check this site to learn when further action has been taken."

4) "The committee's file review indicates that they wish to consider your file over the next several weeks before making a decision about interview. Since they have some reservations about granting an interview, your file will be reviewed again by a small sub-committee before making a final decision. Please continue to check this site to learn when further action has been taken."

5) "REJECTED"

#1 - you are interviewed
#2/3 - may be interviewed (still not sure how they are different or which is better)
#4 - subcommitee message
#5 - rejection."
 
And another quote explaining the statuses

This seems fairly accurate.

#1 is a definite interview (high chance of acceptance)

#2 & #3 are similar, but it seems that #2 may be preferred, so..

#2 is a likely interview (good chance of acceptance); this message suggests an interviewable (and likely admissible) candidate who may not quite make the cut due to the number of applicants

#3 is a possible [late] interview (reasonable chance of acceptance/good chance at wait list); this message suggests you will be evaluated further down the road and reads similarly to the "pre-interview hold" emails many schools send out

#4 is basically a holding pool with a subcommittee and would indicate an interview is unlikely (likely wait list/rejection if interviewed); possible late interview if you pass the subcommittee's evaluation


No real clue which priority scores match to where, but if I had to guess, I'd say:

#1 --1.0-1.5 (smallest category as this basically indicates an imminent interview)
#2 -- 1.5-2.5
#3 -- 2.5-3.5
#4 -- any priority score with specific issues in need of a subcommittee -- such as criminal charges or IAs -- this probably is just a flag that must be addressed before assigning the priority score
#5 -- >3.5

I know I started at #2 and was offered an interview about 2 months after being complete. My acceptance came exactly 14 days post-interview.
 
I think it's time for a re-posting of this from page 4, since it can be hard to find. It's a nice summary of the different statuses and what they mean.

"Application Status:

1) "The Committee's file review indicates that they are very interested in your candidacy. There is another increase in the applicant pool this year, but we are trying to get all candidates at your priority score interviewed as soon as possible. Please watch for an e-mail from us regarding a possible interview date."

2) "The committee's file review indicates that they are interested in your candidacy. However, due to the increase in the applicant pool this year, it is clear we MAY be unable to interview all the candidates at your priority score. If we do find that we are able to grant an interview you will be notified by e-mail."

3) "The committee's file review indicates that they would like to consider your file further. We are now in the process of scheduling interviews and will continue to do so through February. Unfortunately, the committee indicates interest in far more candidates than we are able to interview. Since we are dependent on the Committee member's schedules for interview spaces, we are unable to predict when or if we will be able to schedule you this year. Please continue to check this site to learn when further action has been taken."

4) "The committee's file review indicates that they wish to consider your file over the next several weeks before making a decision about interview. Since they have some reservations about granting an interview, your file will be reviewed again by a small sub-committee before making a final decision. Please continue to check this site to learn when further action has been taken."

5) "REJECTED"

#1 - you are interviewed
#2/3 - may be interviewed (still not sure how they are different or which is better)
#4 - subcommitee message
#5 - rejection."

Thanks for referencing this. Very helpful! I've been complete since July 27th and still no status change...this is driving me crazy! 👎
 
Thanks for referencing this. Very helpful! I've been complete since July 27th and still no status change...this is driving me crazy! 👎

Call or email them i guarantee you'll be complete within 72 hours.
 
I need a complete status ASAP, should I email today or call Monday?
 
Thanks for referencing this. Very helpful! I've been complete since July 27th and still no status change...this is driving me crazy! 👎

Hey - so heads up about this. I submitted my application and payment on 7/14 and nothing happened for a month. Turns out all of my letters were lost in the computer system.

It took a week for the IT guys to find 'em and then admissions to attach them. Complete on 8/23.

So its worth calling them - that's what I had to do. They were really nice about it all - I still felt kinda bad bothering them though.
 
I have been complete since 7/26.....no news since then.....bad sign?
 
Complete and under review 8/17
Further Status 8/26
 
Anyone get an updated status email and log on and have nothing change?

Yep. I went from a long block of text saying I'm complete, to:

"Your file is complete, and has been forwarded to the Admissions Committee for further decison."
 
Yep. I went from a long block of text saying I'm complete, to:

"Your file is complete, and has been forwarded to the Admissions Committee for further decison."
I went from the long block, to this, and then back to the long block. Which, essentially, is all the same.
 
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