2012-2013 Virginia Commonwealth University Application Thread

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mirimonster said:
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."
Click to expand...

Got status #1 today! Anyone know how long it takes for them to send you an email notifying you of the potential interview??
 
Member 191985 said:
Sorry for the delay, started a new rotation this week. Call the admissions office, they have the contact info. It's about a 2 hour visit, and located in northern VA about 2 hours from Richmond. The visits are only for people invited for interviews and you get to meet medical students and talk to admissions people. Hope to see you there!
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Thanks for the info. I don't know that I have that much time to spare but I'll call and talk to admissions about it. I'm really interested in the INOVA program so hopefully I get out there at some point.
 
If you log into the status website, under Instructions/Forms, there is a PDF with instructions about where to park.
 
OMG I should have scheduled my interview last week. 🙁 Now there are no more October dates and I will probably end up interviewing in November, which is kind of late, right?
 
Is there anyone available to be my host for my interview on the 18th? Not sure how to ask haha

Sent from my SPH-L710 using SDN Mobile
 
sinam said:
Is there anyone available to be my host for my interview on the 18th? Not sure how to ask haha

Sent from my SPH-L710 using SDN Mobile
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There is a link to a list of students (and their email addresses) who have volunteered to host. You can find the link on your online status page (the first thing that shows up once you've signed in) where it lists all the info about the interview.
 
mzell12 said:
There is a link to a list of students (and their email addresses) who have volunteered to host. You can find the link on your online status page (the first thing that shows up once you've signed in) where it lists all the info about the interview.
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where did you see the email addresses?
 
How long has it been taking IS students to receive an II (if any at all) with a MAY status?
 
I've been complete since 7/26 and still no status for me other than complete and the committee will do a comprehensive review that i received as soon as submitting the application. Anyone else in the same situation? I am OOS.
 
Woohoo! An October date opened up so I shall interview on the 10th of October!
 
Just had my interview today. I would be very happy to matriculate here.
 
Rejected today. 3.1 cGPA, 4.0 postbac GPA, 32P, OOS. The rejection message was kind of disappointing; Mayo's was much more conciliatory. If any of you are choosing between medical schools based on the quality of their rejection emails, I recommend you go there instead.
 
approx. how long were most people's answers for the secondary app?

p.s congrats to everyone with interviews and good luck to those waiting!
 
Chip N Sawbones said:
Rejected today. 3.1 cGPA, 4.0 postbac GPA, 32P, OOS. The rejection message was kind of disappointing; Mayo's was much more conciliatory. If any of you are choosing between medical schools based on the quality of their rejection emails, I recommend you go there instead.
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Honestly, what kind of BS do you want them to tell you?! How great an applicant you are and how they would absolutely have interviewed you but they just couldn't find enough interviewers for your interview date? I mean...seriously? Call them, though, and they'll be fairly honest about WHY they rejected you... Frankly, your UG GPA is probably a good place to start. The fact that you were rejected this early in the process (esp. if pre-interview) means they basically didn't even have to run you by the committee to know you weren't going to make it. Your stats are low but wouldn't put you in that spot without other issues. I suspect it was a case of low GPA + moderate MCAT (solid but not strong enough to make up for a 3.1 GPA) + OOS + something else (your essays?) that sunk you.
 
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thevin said:
I've been complete since 7/26 and still no status for me other than complete and the committee will do a comprehensive review that i received as soon as submitting the application. Anyone else in the same situation? I am OOS.
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Same here.
 
Forthefuture said:
Same here.
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They have a lot of applicants. We saw our first set of interviewees just last week; don't worry. The process is just beginning. I applied around that time last yr and didn't get my interview invite 'til November but managed to be accepted in December almost immediately after my interview.... A girl I was talking w just tonight told me she had interviewed way back in this first batch of interviews last year but didn't get in 'til June (i.e., off the wait list). Anything can happen, so just chillax and enjoy the ride!
 
Chip N Sawbones said:
Rejected today. 3.1 cGPA, 4.0 postbac GPA, 32P, OOS. The rejection message was kind of disappointing; Mayo's was much more conciliatory. If any of you are choosing between medical schools based on the quality of their rejection emails, I recommend you go there instead.
Click to expand...

chips, when were you complete though?
 
Hey guys, if any reapplicants could answer, that would be great.

I applied last year to VCU, and didn't get an interview. But this year, with a much stronger application, I was given an interview. I was just wondering if I should expect interview questions about my former application, or anything like that. Like "What have you done to make it better, etc."
 
RG3forPresident said:
Hey guys, if any reapplicants could answer, that would be great.

I applied last year to VCU, and didn't get an interview. But this year, with a much stronger application, I was given an interview. I was just wondering if I should expect interview questions about my former application, or anything like that. Like "What have you done to make it better, etc."
Click to expand...

Yes, absolutely you should expect questions about how you have improved, even if you were a really 'good' applicant before. I am a re-applicant this cycle (have not yet interviewed at VCU yet though) and have been asked in interviews multiple times how I have improved since last cycle.
 
mwall003 said:
what were your thoughts about it?
Click to expand...

They presented the new curriculum to us a few weeks ago at a student gov't meeting and I thought it was really interesting. I thought it seemed pretty cool. It's basically a systems-based integrated 1.5 yr pre-clinical curriculum with a longer 3rd yr and the ability to begin 4th yr electives early. They will probably begin requiring more upper-level coursework b/c certain courses, such as biochem are likely to be abbreviated, (that is not yet official but has been hinted at by certain faculty members on the curriculum committee). It will be a multi-phase process. My class (2016) is really phase 0 (phase-out of the old system in M1 & M2 with limited implementation of the new curriculum in M3 & M4). Your class will be phase 1 (full implementation of the new curriculum M1 & M2 with some modifications for M3 & M4). They estimated it would actually be the year after you that is the full implementation of the new curriculum. My guess is that 2019 or 2020 will be the first class to receive the actual new curriculum in a relatively stable setup, since it will take at least a year or two after the "guinea pig" class of 2018 (the first to receive the full M1-M4 implementation) for the dust to settle. I will say, though, that your M3 & M4 modifications to the new curriculum will be pretty minor from what I understand. You'll get about 90% of the new curriculum. As I recall, they basically have to leave out a couple of 1-week intensive electives and do some weird stuff scheduling-wise to prevent your early M3 year (i.e., end of M2 year) from interfering with (the end of) our regular M3 year.

RG3forPresident said:
Hey guys, if any reapplicants could answer, that would be great.

I applied last year to VCU, and didn't get an interview. But this year, with a much stronger application, I was given an interview. I was just wondering if I should expect interview questions about my former application, or anything like that. Like "What have you done to make it better, etc."
Click to expand...

Yes, expect to be asked about improvements.
 
Well after about a month of waiting, my letters are FINAAALLLLYYYY marked as being in and I'm complete, sheesh. Now, more waiting!
 
Got the rejection status update yesterday .. INSTATE 3.8/32R. VCU was my top choice.. very disappointed with this.
 
co2013 said:
Got the rejection status update yesterday .. INSTATE 3.8/32R. VCU was my top choice.. very disappointed with this.
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Sorry to hear you were rejected. When were you complete? It seems as though rejection rates increase after submitting after a certain date...
 
cinamin said:
Sorry to hear you were rejected. When were you complete? It seems as though rejection rates increase after submitting after a certain date...
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I was complete around 8/14, which isn't too late. I figured I would at least get an interview though, being instate with above average stats. Oh well, hopefully I'll have better luck with the other instate schools.
 
co2013 said:
I was complete around 8/14, which isn't too late. I figured I would at least get an interview though, being instate with above average stats. Oh well, hopefully I'll have better luck with the other instate schools.
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You could call them and ask. I saw a post earlier in this thread or another year in which the poster called and was told exactly why he/she was rejected. good luck to you.
 
co2013 said:
Got the rejection status update yesterday .. INSTATE 3.8/32R. VCU was my top choice.. very disappointed with this.
Click to expand...

Must have been something they saw in your PS, secondary or LORs. Your stats are obviously strong. I'd give 'em a call and see what happened. Sounds like a red flag. Maybe lacking clinical experience? They value that quite a bit more than stats....
 
cinamin said:
chips, when were you complete though?
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Complete email received 7/30.

music2doc said:
Honestly, what kind of BS do you want them to tell you?! How great an applicant you are and how they would absolutely have interviewed you but they just couldn't find enough interviewers for your interview date? I mean...seriously? Call them, though, and they'll be fairly honest about WHY they rejected you... Frankly, your UG GPA is probably a good place to start. The fact that you were rejected this early in the process (esp. if pre-interview) means they basically didn't even have to run you by the committee to know you weren't going to make it. Your stats are low but wouldn't put you in that spot without other issues. I suspect it was a case of low GPA + moderate MCAT (solid but not strong enough to make up for a 3.1 GPA) + OOS + something else (your essays?) that sunk you.
Click to expand...

Calm down, I was trying to make a joke. Obviously nobody chooses medical schools based on the quality of their rejection emails, and I know perfectly well that my cGPA was the primary cause. I graduated with a 2.9 in 2004, went back to college last year and got a 4.0 in all the prereqs, but that still only averages out to a 3.14. I've gotten plenty of ii's from DO schools, so I'm guessing there aren't any significant problems with my essays, and my EC's are rock solid.
 
Last edited:
II yesterday IS 3.97/32O (May status last week)! However I didn't see the email until later and by the time I saw it the earliest interview date they had was December 2nd. What's the consensus on interviews on December or later and does VCU have rolling admissions?

Thanks for your input guys and gals!
 
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Chip N Sawbones said:
Calm down, I was trying to make a joke.
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personally, i thought it was hilarious. i read it while flying to an interview (gotta love soutwest's wi-fi) and the person next to me gave me a strange look when i suddenly laughed out loud.
 
mtremblay said:
II yesterday IS 3.97/32O (May status last week)! However I didn't see the email until later and by the time I saw it the earliest interview date they had was December 2nd. What's the consensus on interviews on December or later and does VCU have rolling admissions?

Thanks for your input guys and gals!
Click to expand...

You got an II, so I'd say you're in good shape :laugh:. But with the Dec 2nd Interview, I'd think you'd make the Dec 15th notification.
 
GoatMachine said:
Just had my interview today. I would be very happy to matriculate here.
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congrats! was it just one interview? 30 min to an hour? was it as conversational and non-threatening as they make it seem on the website?
 
rierphfft said:
congrats! was it just one interview? 30 min to an hour? was it as conversational and non-threatening as they make it seem on the website?
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A single one-on-one interview with a conversational/relaxed tone. Mine lasted 1.5 hours, but that's because I really hit it off with my interviewer and we had a good time. Most of them should be 30 minutes to 1 hour.

It may be relaxed, but you will still get asked the typical interview questions.
 
I submitted my secondary application on 8/20, and I am still listed as incomplete because they have yet to assign LORs to my application. (The LORs were uploaded to AMCAS on or before 8/15.) Is anyone else experiencing this sort of delay?
 
SoVaDr said:
I interviewed on 9/11, and my interview lasted 1.5 as well. Oddly enough, only two of us interviewed that day. How many people were interviewed on your day?
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15 people were interviewed on my day
 
SoVaDr said:
I interviewed on 9/11, and my interview lasted 1.5 as well. Oddly enough, only two of us interviewed that day. How many people were interviewed on your day?
Click to expand...


When I got my II on 9/5 that was the only interview day left before November. Maybe people were superstitious about interviewing that day? It was too early for me to get flights/hotels booked, otherwise I would have loved to interview earlier.
 
I've had the "further" status since 8/20. Does anything think it's a good idea to send an update letter or letter of interest at this time point? or is VCU not receptive to those kind of updates pre-interview?
 
My experience on these responses so far is be patient. They will get back to you at some point.
 
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