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There is everything wrong with having a race. Let them find the best applicants, not the ones that submitted their applications on the first day.
2013-2014 Rosalind Franklin University Application Thread
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I get what you're saying, but it's all about perspective.
Take my situation: my girlfriend is finishing vet school and needs to apply for jobs. Where should she apply? Philadelphia? New Orleans? Chicago?
Flying all over the place costs big money and we need to focus on areas where we both have a shot.
Jobs require contracts, and contracts require certainty. Unfortunately, I may have to withdrawal from this school bc we can't afford to drop a few thousand on flights/hotels on the chance I'll be accepted.
My interview was dec 4th. I've called and emailed and they have me in a weird holding pattern (without being on hold).
That's unacceptable- I have more to think about then my self.
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I understand your thinking but I don't agree 100%. Applying early tells the school a lot about the applicant. Having everything together and being organized on a timely manner tells a lot about how you will be as a doctor. So those that submit early should have better chance of getting in.
Now back to the topic of CMS. I am not trying to be rude, but you should read our previous posts to see where we are coming from. I think you are misunderstanding the whole situation. I am not asking the school to accept early applicants. The only thing I ask for from the school is give us an UPDATE. Either it be rejection or hold. I don't care if they accept later applicants, but they should give us early applicants something to hold onto and not keep silence for 3 months.
I agree that all medical schools have the right of finding the best applicants. BUT they should not go 3 month of silence when they call themselves a rolling admission.
Similar to Blackbox, my financial standing is not as well-off as many of the applicants. By not knowing where I am at, I can't make a decision for the upcoming year. I had to make $2000 deposit recently on housing that I don't know if I will fulfill the contract. Anyways, if you are not in our situation, then you would not know the stress that we are going through.
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Wow. You sound pretty upset, which is totally understandable. However, much like medicine, sometimes things don't always go our way and we can't always control the outcome. Sadly, many people are in that position and have to make long term decisions in the face of such uncertainties. I think its all a part of the grueling application process that we all just have to endure, unfortunately.
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My Beijing friend and I had a conversation like this. How can someone tell you which ice cream is their favorite if they haven't tried every flavor?
Sometimes I wish that we didn't have to spend around 5000 dollars on application and traveling. I also wish that the timing of applications wasn't one whole year before matriculation because as they are placing us on scales to be weighed with all the other applicants, our anxiety taxes us throughout the cycle.
I didn't realize that you had been waiting 3 months. That is too long! I'm just frustrated because my school's advisers didn't tell me that late applications would kill my chances at interviews. Despite speaking 3 languages: Chinese, English, and Spanish, Lizzy score of 68+, decent research, Job as an EMT and 7 great letters of rec. The classes filled up so fast that I was rejected before many of the schools reviewed my application. I am starting to think that timing is more important than all that other jazz.
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Timing is really the key to this process. Even though I had a successful interview season, I was definitely at a disadvantage due to my later application (end of July- pushing my complete dates to around late September at most schools).
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I love how the first month is considered late. I couldn't get my primary in until early Sept pushing me back until the later part of October. Doesn't Amcas open early July and stay open until close to the end of the year. Why do they even take applications after August if they don't have time to look at them?
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AMCAS opens in Mayish and the earliest submission date was 6/10. So early/on time submission was anything in June/early July since verification took a long time. I think that finishing up your secondaries was important too because if you took too long to complete them, it puts you at another disadvantage. Interviews start in August/September for most schools so you are putting yourself at a disadvantage by applying late. Some schools still look at apps past August because some people add schools post-verification.
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Seriously. I wish all applications were considered after the final day of submission.
I
Ill be real with you guys, I mainly want to know for the sake of my sanity. But everyone made some good points too.
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This could just be a waiting game. They won't have to reject as many people if enough people back out. I don't understand the point of withdrawing? Is there a limit to how many times you can apply here or something?
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I had a great time at CMS and think it's a solid fit for my personality, but I'm holding acceptances at other schools- so I accomplished my goal this cycle.
This is kinda what I saying above. It's a package deal with me and since my girlfriend is not currently applying to jobs in Chicago, there's little point in waiting. There's just no reason for her to focus on this area and waste resources when I've been waiting this long- with it looking more like a rejection/wl each passing week....
Also if I withdrawal, that may open up a spot for someone else.
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Good man. Not only will you open up a spot here, you will open spots at other places once you make your final decision. But b/w Philly, New Orleans, and North Chicago, I'm sure more opportunities will open up for you and your vet girlfriend in either Philly or New Orleans.
I interviewed the last week of January and haven't heard a thing- I can't believe some of you have been waiting almost 2 months longer. Didn't they say 4-6 weeks at the interview day or am I thinking of another school? Does anyone know how often their admissions committee meets?
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I heard a rumor that the adcom meets
on the 20th of every month, and i did actually recieve my acceptance email on the 20th of december, and have seen other people post decisions here on or shortly after the 20th of other months. Again, this is just a rumor, not a confirmed suspicion, but I am hoping that you all might here back tomorrow or Friday!
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Good to know! At least we know something (might be false) about this mysterious school… 🙂
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Anyone know if RFUMS student ambassadors (tour guides, etc) have a voting position in determining admission? I know other schools I interviewed at gave student ambassadors a vote on applicants who are seeking admission. Anyone with this knowledge? Also, I am hoping they send out more invitations to interview this week.
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Does anyone have an idea about how late they send out II?
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Ok...first let me say to all of you that I COMPLETELY understand your frustration. Many of you have been waiting a very long time to receive an answer from CMS. I work very closely with the Admissions office, so let me enlighten you...
Currently, CMS has received close to 13,000 applications this cycle. Primary applications are still being screened, and interviews are still being conducted. If you've interviewed months ago and haven't received a decision, then that means you are still being considered. Find some comfort in that and calm down. I'm sure everyone thinks that they're application is the best, but it may take some time for the admissions committee to figure that out when they have to screen 13,000 applications!!!
Please understand that the Admissions committee is VERY busy! Not only do they process CMS applications, but they also process the applications for ALL the other programs at RFUMS (Pharmacy, Podiatry, Physician Assistance, Path Assist, Psychology, Grad school, Nurse Anesth., etc). If they're not answering emails or returning phone calls, it's because they're busy processing all your applications. Give them the benefit of the doubt. None of you are more special than anyone else. They process every application in the same manner. Also, understand that the Admissions office only processes your application. The actual admissions committee (PhD's, MDs, etc) decide who gets accepted. So the Admissions office has to wait for decisions just like you do. Selecting the candidates for a medical school class is a VERY sophisticated process. It takes time. There are MANY factors at play here. Trust me when I tell you that the Admissions office isn't sitting around with their thumbs up their a$$es.
Eventually you will know if you're accepted or not. For now, just keep living.
Currently, CMS has received close to 13,000 applications this cycle. Primary applications are still being screened, and interviews are still being conducted. If you've interviewed months ago and haven't received a decision, then that means you are still being considered. Find some comfort in that and calm down. I'm sure everyone thinks that they're application is the best, but it may take some time for the admissions committee to figure that out when they have to screen 13,000 applications!!!
Please understand that the Admissions committee is VERY busy! Not only do they process CMS applications, but they also process the applications for ALL the other programs at RFUMS (Pharmacy, Podiatry, Physician Assistance, Path Assist, Psychology, Grad school, Nurse Anesth., etc). If they're not answering emails or returning phone calls, it's because they're busy processing all your applications. Give them the benefit of the doubt. None of you are more special than anyone else. They process every application in the same manner. Also, understand that the Admissions office only processes your application. The actual admissions committee (PhD's, MDs, etc) decide who gets accepted. So the Admissions office has to wait for decisions just like you do. Selecting the candidates for a medical school class is a VERY sophisticated process. It takes time. There are MANY factors at play here. Trust me when I tell you that the Admissions office isn't sitting around with their thumbs up their a$$es.
Eventually you will know if you're accepted or not. For now, just keep living.
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Sorry, but the answer is no. We don't have any input, or even know who the adcom members are, when they meet, etc
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WHOA!
First off Dr. Sweet Potato, you can hold the condescension. Not one of us on this board has intimated that we feel more special than anyone else. We get that the that admissions committees are "VERY" busy and that the oh so inscrutable admissions process is complex and takes "MANY" factors into account (sophisticated...mmm, I'm not so sure). This is a forum where we connect over our shared anxieties and vent our frustrations, and what you've read over the past few posts is a collective WTF about CMS unresponsiveness to its applicants. You see, all some people want is to get a "HOLD" email telling them that the committee didn't get around to reviewing their application. I don't think that is too much to ask. We were told that after 6-8 weeks post-interview we would get "some" kind of response. We are still waiting...
If the admissions committee is so slammed that they can't get around to an email, tell us post-interview that it will likely take 3-5 months to hear back. Then we'll adjust our expectations accordingly.
So, we are living our lives, we're just living them with unrealistic expectations and the frustration that was set up by the admissions committee. You guys have all the power, all we ask is that you don't toy with us.
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No condescension intended. I apologize if I personally offended you, or anyone else on this thread. My comment about feeling special was in a response to a post that I read on this thread. Whether you believe it or not, the admissions process is very sophisticated. I work in the admissions office so I personally know how complicated the process is - that's how I'm sure. Please tell me how you're "not so sure."
Like I said before, I understand your frustration. I've been in your shoes before. I'm a current med student at CMS right now. The anxiety about not knowing can be quite overwhelming at times. But you will all have a decision in due time. I can tell you now as I'm writing this, everyone in the admissions office is working on applications in some form or another. When they say that you should hear a response in 6-8 weeks, or whatever, give it a little more time. If you were rejected, you would certainly know by now. If you haven't been notified, that means you're still being considered.
Good luck to all of you.
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I'm pretty sure this hasn't been posted yet, but FYI, from the CMS Accreditation Update page:
____________________________________________________________
Friday, March 14, 2014
During its regular meeting Feb. 25-27, the LCME determined that CMS has demonstrated significant progress in meeting the national standards. The areas of concern the LCME had previously identified are no longer in “non-compliance” and the LCME considers these areas to be “in compliance with a need for monitoring.” While the areas are considered in compliance with current standards, CMS needs to provide additional evidence that the required policy, process, resource, or system is in place for each item to ensure desired outcomes. In other words, the LCME wants to ensure the progress made is sustainable. The medical school remains fully accredited while it is on probation and its status does not impact our students’ ability to sit for boards, enter residency programs or graduate.
Looking ahead, the LCME will seek regular progress updates to ensure these items meet expectations. We will continue to focus on these areas to show desired outcomes to the LCME. Additionally, the LCME has key milestones over the next 12 months in which it will review our progress, including a limited survey visit at a date yet to be determined this year.
The faculty, staff and students of Chicago Medical School are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support that we have received from CMS alumni over the last several months. Many of you continue to ask how you can help move CMS forward. There are many ways, but the most important is to continue to show your support of our students – whether it’s through advising, providing shadowing opportunities in your practice, or by supporting their CMS education by making a donation to the scholarship campaign.
We are confident we are on the right track. I encourage you to attend the townhall meeting on Monday, March 17 at noon in the Rhoades Auditorium where I will provide a more thorough update and answer any questions you may have.Together we are fostering a culture that not only provides a solid foundation for the present, but ensures we are prepared for the future. Positive change is occurring throughout our school, and we are fortunate to have such invested people willing to collaborate on a common goal to ensure excellence in medical education at CMS.
Sincerely,
John Tomkowiak, MD, MOL
Dean, Chicago Medical School
_____________________________________________________________
Basically, there's been significant progress in the probation status. The probation status will continue for at least a year as the LCME reviews the school's progress. This is probably what we've all been expecting, but at least it's comforting to know that the administration knows what it's doing.
I haven't been able to find out anything about what was said at the town hall meeting, perhaps @tantacles or another current student could tell us.
____________________________________________________________
Friday, March 14, 2014
During its regular meeting Feb. 25-27, the LCME determined that CMS has demonstrated significant progress in meeting the national standards. The areas of concern the LCME had previously identified are no longer in “non-compliance” and the LCME considers these areas to be “in compliance with a need for monitoring.” While the areas are considered in compliance with current standards, CMS needs to provide additional evidence that the required policy, process, resource, or system is in place for each item to ensure desired outcomes. In other words, the LCME wants to ensure the progress made is sustainable. The medical school remains fully accredited while it is on probation and its status does not impact our students’ ability to sit for boards, enter residency programs or graduate.
Looking ahead, the LCME will seek regular progress updates to ensure these items meet expectations. We will continue to focus on these areas to show desired outcomes to the LCME. Additionally, the LCME has key milestones over the next 12 months in which it will review our progress, including a limited survey visit at a date yet to be determined this year.
The faculty, staff and students of Chicago Medical School are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support that we have received from CMS alumni over the last several months. Many of you continue to ask how you can help move CMS forward. There are many ways, but the most important is to continue to show your support of our students – whether it’s through advising, providing shadowing opportunities in your practice, or by supporting their CMS education by making a donation to the scholarship campaign.
We are confident we are on the right track. I encourage you to attend the townhall meeting on Monday, March 17 at noon in the Rhoades Auditorium where I will provide a more thorough update and answer any questions you may have.Together we are fostering a culture that not only provides a solid foundation for the present, but ensures we are prepared for the future. Positive change is occurring throughout our school, and we are fortunate to have such invested people willing to collaborate on a common goal to ensure excellence in medical education at CMS.
Sincerely,
John Tomkowiak, MD, MOL
Dean, Chicago Medical School
_____________________________________________________________
Basically, there's been significant progress in the probation status. The probation status will continue for at least a year as the LCME reviews the school's progress. This is probably what we've all been expecting, but at least it's comforting to know that the administration knows what it's doing.
I haven't been able to find out anything about what was said at the town hall meeting, perhaps @tantacles or another current student could tell us.
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Unfortunately, I was not at the town hall personally, but I guarantee you that what is on the site is the big picture. We still have plenty of work ahead of us as an institution, but we've addressed the issues that have been presented to us, and faculty, staff and students will continue to work hard to address any remaining and forthcoming issues.
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I can confirm that this post does reflect the truth.
I think, though, @DrSweetPotato, the outpouring of frustration in this thread, both before your post was made and in response to it, is not due to an unrealistic expectation of an immediate and personal response with regard to admissions, but rather a feeling that barring absolute catastrophe, the word of the admissions office with regard to timing of hearing post-interview should, in fact, be reflective of how long it takes to hear post-interview.
And while I certainly am sympathetic to the plight of our overworked admissions office, the fact remains that we conduct around 800 interviews per year. I think it is absolutely understandable that prospective students might feel frustrated with regard to not hearing from our school within the timeframe that our school laid out on the interview day. In particular, one applicant has been waiting for around for more than 12 weeks. I imagine he/she hopes to solidify housing plans for next year, which is not an unreasonable expectation.
So while our admissions committee absolutely is working as hard as it can, I think it's important to acknowledge that both frustration from our applicants and the difficulty in turnaround time by our admissions committee are both valid; no one's emotions should be discounted, particularly those who have shown consistent interest in our school.
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Very well said!!!
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Your 1st-2nd sentence in the 3rd paragraph contradicts your 6th-8th sentence in the 3rd paragraph. I was a law student in my past life and I am a bit confused with what you said.
So the CMS admissions committee screens applicants and decide on if an invitation to interview is given to an applicant for CMS, Podiatry, PA, Pharmacy, and etc? Sounds kind of inefficient, no?
Do you mean each of the respective schools have their own admissions committee? 13,000 applicants just for CMS alone and so I can't imagine how one admissions committee can screen efficiently for all respective schools in question. Are you sure what you say is accurate (just confused, no harm intended)?
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I think the issue you may have with this is the double use of the term "process" when referring to applications handled by both the admissions office and committee.
I took this to mean (maybe incorrectly) that each groups does something different.
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I was under the impression that each school has their own admissions committee and academic counselors/recruiters that process the applicants' applications. What DrSweetPotato said was something else. Hopefully, he or she will chime in and clarify his statement since the processing structures he/she described sounds very inefficient.
17 full weeks, not a single update after my interview. Flat out disrespectful. I just want to find some place to live, regardless if it is here or not. Why no update for those waiting >1,000 weeks post-interview when CLEARLY our files must have been reviewed at some point considering that people who interviewed 1-2 weeks prior to the next committee meetings have heard back consistently over the past few months. All we want is an update, at least give us that for all the time, energy, and money we invest....The waiting with not a single response is complete horse sh** if you ask me, we are all very well-rounded candidates and this harms reputation and may turn many great future physicians away. I sent an email to the committee (after numerous calls and messages with no response in several weeks) with 8 SPECIFIC questions regarding why some files have "not been reviewed in 500 weeks post interview", when the next meeting is, and if they can let us know if our file will be reviewed in the upcoming meeting, etc. I got an email saying thank you for your ongoing interest and to let them know if I had any SPECIFIC questions. Some peoples' kids......
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The structure is as follows:
The admissions COMMITTEE makes decisions on the merit of each application. Every program (CMS, Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, Pharmacy, etc.) has its own admissions committee, though there is some overlap between members as many professors teach classes for multiple programs (and, for that matter, many classes have students from multiple programs in them).
The admissions OFFICE deals with the administrative side of admissions for most, if not all, programs. They coordinate interview scheduling as well as the interview days and communicate the decisions of the admissions committee to candidates. Admissions COUNSELORS are part of the admissions OFFICE and coordinate interviews for multiple programs; each program does not have its own admissions counselors.
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The masses are getting restless. What did Marie Antoinette say... let them eat their MCAT study guides.
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DrSweetPotato aint coming back. I don't know how kosher it is for an employee of the adcom to speak on their behalf unless authorized. But still, I appreciated it. Most news i've gotten from them in over 3 months.
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I feel your pain. I'm sure we should hear something by the end of this month. If not, then that's just shameful.
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S/He's not an employee; s/he's a current medical student.
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ah. my mistake.
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Thank you Tantacles. That makes more sense now.
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That's fast! I interviewed 1/27 havent heard back
I interviewed 12/11 and still haven't heard... Strange.
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Do the interviewers make up the admissions committee? Or do they present applicants (either via verbal discussion or written report) to those on the admissions comittee for them (admissions committee) to make the final decision?
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i had this conversation with the CMS adcom:
"I've been waiting close to 4 months now post interview without any updates. When can i expect something?"
"you should hear something soon."
"but how soon is soon? Soon could mean another 4 months."
"Right. call back soon."
edit. this didnt actually happen. its just some witty banter. can you guess where its from?
"I've been waiting close to 4 months now post interview without any updates. When can i expect something?"
"you should hear something soon."
"but how soon is soon? Soon could mean another 4 months."
"Right. call back soon."
edit. this didnt actually happen. its just some witty banter. can you guess where its from?
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That was all you got from them? Maybe we will all get an update at the end of TODAY!!! 😀
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they dont pick up their phones. i feel like a debt collector.
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Congrats Apex! "Great News" for you!
By any chance, are you a current BMS student there or a direct admit? I read in other SDN forums that some BMS students received their admission results today from RFUMS.
Thanks!
