2013-2014 Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

[gobigorgohome22]

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I have not gotten the secondary yet 😳😳😳

 

[Noggin]

This essay prompt is a tough one.

 

[3rdarmageddon]

What is it?

 

[Soulstice]

Prompt, please? [trying to decide whether to apply to this school]

 

[Donald Kimball]

Prompt, please? [trying to decide whether to apply to this school]

A family member or friend comes to you to discuss a curable cancer for which they are considering alternative/ complimentary medicine options. What would be your next steps? (Limit 8000 characters)

 

[snowwhat]

My guess would be that it's a generic letter unless you applied late and that was why they couldn't offer you an interview. That said, give them a call and ask Dr. Whitehurst-Cook what her opinion is. She is usually pretty open with applicants. Ask her what you can fix to be more competitive. Ask her what she thinks might have prevented them from interviewing you (Don't ask whether or not you should reapply.) The most obvious reasons for no interview are:

MCAT <28 (unless you are URM and/or have exceptional ECs)*
GPA <3.5 (unless the above)*
Lack of clinical experience (research to some degree but is much less important than clinical)
Essays or PS don't match MCV's mission
LORs are bad


* Stats are approximations of around where I would think you might see a downturn in chances at an interview. There are many variables and no one number will determine anything.

Does this GPA <3.5 include both core GPA and science GPA? I'm in a weird situation where my cGPA is 3.6 and my sGPA a 3.4. =/

 

[BundleofHis]

Did everybody get that initial email saying that their application has been received? I've been verified since the 28th and haven't gotten anything from VCU.

 

[gobigorgohome22]

Did everybody get that initial email saying that their application has been received? I've been verified since the 28th and haven't gotten anything from VCU.

I am in the same position.

 

[3rdarmageddon]

Same here. That's a really rough secondary question. I have no idea how to approach this, so I guess I'll just be honest.

 

[Ts1991]

Same here. That's a really rough secondary question. I have no idea how to approach this, so I guess I'll just be honest.

Sad that we have to say that nowadays. We have to exaggerate and make everything sound glorious instead of just being realistic..

 

[Noggin]

How much is everyone going to write here? I know we can write up to 8000, but don't you think that 2000-3000 characters would be appropriate?

 

[BurberryDoc]

How much is everyone going to write here? I know we can write up to 8000, but don't you think that 2000-3000 characters would be appropriate?

I'm writing 4k and 4k - two different interpretations of this (of at least 7) to have my bases covered

 

[lemonade123]

So are we supposed to answer the question from the role of a physician?

 

[Noggin]

Also, does anyone think this question is asking about homeopathy in particular?

 

[crunch811]

I submitted my app on the 29th and just got an email telling me that my status has changed. When I checked, I was given a secondary! Make sure you go back to your status page to check. Yes, the prompt is very different than any other I have received!!

 

[lemonade123]

How much is everyone going to write here? I know we can write up to 8000, but don't you think that 2000-3000 characters would be appropriate?

8000 is A LOT to write for this prompt. I've feel like I've explained my view well in 3000 characters and I'm not sure if I should write more

 

[3rdarmageddon]

Sad that we have to say that nowadays. We have to exaggerate and make everything sound glorious instead of just being realistic..

To be perfectly honest, I'm liking this prompt more and more. It seems like a very real situation that we may face, and one that we should be able to address while respecting other people's wishes.

 

[surely]

Ditto - Thought this prompt was excellent. Didn't write anywhere near 8000 characters, though.

 

[AdrianVeidt]

Am I the only American here who does NOT have a permanent resident card? I had no idea people born in the country were even given one.

Will my birth certificate be good enough to send to VCU?

 

[BundleofHis]

Crap&#8230; I still haven't even HEARD from VCU! What's going on?! 🙁

 

[mdmd90]

permanent resident card is basically a visa and for US permanent residents only. US citizens don't have one.

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

Am I the only American here who does NOT have a permanent resident card? I had no idea people born in the country were even given one.

Will my birth certificate be good enough to send to VCU?

It says if applicable...

US birth cert establishes citizenship.

 

[Soulstice]

Also, does anyone think this question is asking about homeopathy in particular?

A possibility, but not necessarily.

I just hope my answer to this q isn't too similar to every single other response.

 

[AdrianVeidt]

permanent resident card is basically a visa and for US permanent residents only. US citizens don't have one.

It says if applicable...

US birth cert establishes citizenship.

Gotcha, thanks.

 

[CaramelSandiego]

So are we supposed to answer the question from the role of a physician?

This is exactly what I am wondering; to those of you who wrote out this secondary response, what approach did you take? Did you take the lack of specificity in the question as an excuse to answer it from the perspective you wanted, or not?

It's a tough question, but I do think it's pretty good, much different and more thought-provoking than the usual secondary questions asked by most.

EDIT: Would putting a sentence at the beginning explaining something like "I am answering this question from the perspective of a medical professional, assuming that I am in that role in this situation" be acceptable?

 

[BurberryDoc]

If submitting one day after recieving secondary, is that considered submitting early? Or does early vs late submission really depend on how many people have submitted before you?

 

[Noggin]

The prerequisites indicate that we need a whole year of organic chemistry lab? At my school I took a year of organic chemistry lecture but only two quarters of lab. Biology majors aren't even supposed to take the third quarter of organic chemistry lab at our school. Is anyone else in the same position?

 

[rosaceae]

The prerequisites indicate that we need a whole year of organic chemistry lab? At my school I took a year of organic chemistry lecture but only two quarters of lab. Biology majors aren't even supposed to take the third quarter of organic chemistry lab at our school. Is anyone else in the same position?

yep I am. Guess we should figure this out!

 

[Noggin]

yep I am. Guess we should figure this out!

I just emailed a member of the admissions committee and PM'd a current medical student. I really hope this isn't an issue. No other medical schools that I have applied to so far have had this requirement. I'll keep you posted on what I find.

 

[gobigorgohome22]

I just emailed a member of the admissions committee and PM'd a current medical student. I really hope this isn't an issue. No other medical schools that I have applied to so far have had this requirement. I'll keep you posted on what I find.

Almost every school I have have applied to has asked for 1yr of lab. This will be an issue with a lot of school for you guys.

Just received my secondary here.

 

[BundleofHis]

Almost every school I have have applied to has asked for 1yr of lab. This will be an issue with a lot of school for you guys.

Just received my secondary here.

You got your secondary today? I hope that means mine is on its way! 🙂

I've also realized that one year of lab is required at many schools. Hoping I can substitute biochemistry lab for one of those semesters!

 

[BurberryDoc]

The prerequisites indicate that we need a whole year of organic chemistry lab? At my school I took a year of organic chemistry lecture but only two quarters of lab. Biology majors aren't even supposed to take the third quarter of organic chemistry lab at our school. Is anyone else in the same position?

I transferred from a 2 yr CC to an Ivy. At the Ivy, they only required 1 semester or organic lab, 2 semesters of lecture. At CC, I had to take a 10 credit sequence in organic (5+5), both including labs. Too bad that doesn't outweigh the overall disadvantage of having attending a community college lol

 

[Noggin]

Almost every school I have have applied to has asked for 1yr of lab. This will be an issue with a lot of school for you guys.

Just received my secondary here.

We must be applying to completely different schools then because all other medical schools I have submitted a secondary for do not have this requirement.

 

[rosaceae]

Almost every school I have have applied to has asked for 1yr of lab. This will be an issue with a lot of school for you guys.

Just received my secondary here.

I've noticed that it hasn't really been an issue. They say 1 yr of ochem lab but then I've seen them say that they will accept the school's definition of adequate lab experience as long as you explain it. I also had one secondary say to use the 3 quarters = 2 semesters conversion and round up if it was not a whole number (so 2 quarters would still equal 2 semesters in their eyes.. or 1 yr). It hopefully won't be an issue at this school

 

[Noggin]

I've noticed that it hasn't really been an issue. They say 1 yr of ochem lab but then I've seen them say that they will accept the school's definition of adequate lab experience as long as you explain it. I also had one secondary say to use the 3 quarters = 2 semesters conversion and round up if it was not a whole number (so 2 quarters would still equal 2 semesters in their eyes.. or 1 yr). It hopefully won't be an issue at this school

How are you planning on explaining it to the school? Do you think an email would be sufficient? I know there is a place to write future coursework in the VCU secondary, but for many other secondaries there aren't good places to explain these kinds of things

 

[rosaceae]

I think it depends on the school. For one of my secondaries it had a textbox and asked me to explain my school's definition of adequate lab experience there. I guess for schools that require 1 yr of ochem and my school conflicts with that and they dont give a space for me to explain that, I will probably email them to explain my situation and ask if it is okay for the prereqs!

 

[just some guy]

In the same boat. Just 1 semester of orgo lab (though I also have a semester of biochem lab so maybe that will help?).

Anyway, finished the secondary but I'm nowhere near 8000 characters.

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

Does anyone have additional information on the fmSTAT program? I'm definitely interested, but I'm curious if there's more than the perks listed on the website. Do they usually offer scholarship money for people in the program or is it just kind of like an FM honors college? Thanks.

 

[BurberryDoc]

Does anyone have additional information on the fmSTAT program? I'm definitely interested, but I'm curious if there's more than the perks listed on the website. Do they usually offer scholarship money for people in the program or is it just kind of like an FM honors college? Thanks.

I'm curious if I list interest in family medicine, but decline to be considered for fmSTAT if they'll think that's conflicting? I'm interested in internal/family/GP, but I just want to study in their conventional curriculum.

 

[mdmd90]

The essay prompt ("Describe your unique qualities and how they might contribute to or benefit our medical school class.") on the confirmation page is different from the one in the application....

 

[AdrianVeidt]

The essay prompt ("Describe your unique qualities and how they might contribute to or benefit our medical school class.") on the confirmation page is different from the one in the application....

Yeah, I noticed that too. I'm sure they'll recognize the issue since it happened to everyone.

 

[mdmd90]

great, thanks - just checking!

 

[music2doc]

A family member or friend comes to you to discuss a curable cancer for which they are considering alternative/ complimentary medicine options. What would be your next steps? (Limit 8000 characters)

I'm writing 4k and 4k - two different interpretations of this (of at least 7) to have my bases covered

I would NOT do this. You need to make a decision. How would YOU handle that interaction? (Think like a physician.) You don't get do-overs in medicine. I would suggest several things for your approach:

1) Restate the question
2) Define the problem in terms of ethical and clinical principles. (What is going on here? What does your friend want? What does the friend need? How can "we" meet those wants and needs? Side note, who is "we" in the previous question? What is your role?)
3) Propose a course of action
4) Explain your proposal using the aforementioned principles, demonstrating excellent judgment/decision-making, empathy, and overall thought process.
5) Restate, expand upon, and provide a conclusion with a jumping-off point for further discussion

The prerequisites indicate that we need a whole year of organic chemistry lab? At my school I took a year of organic chemistry lecture but only two quarters of lab. Biology majors aren't even supposed to take the third quarter of organic chemistry lab at our school. Is anyone else in the same position?

I responded to this question in a PM. Whether or not MCV requires it is really beside the point. Most schools (I believe including MCV) require a full year of lab. Further, doing the absolute minimum isn't the way to get into medical school. If you had asked that question of me in an interview, I don't think it would have been a good mark in my notes.

You got your secondary today? I hope that means mine is on its way! 🙂

I've also realized that one year of lab is required at many schools. Hoping I can substitute biochemistry lab for one of those semesters!

The semester of biochem lab may be admissible as a substitution but you're better off doing both.

In the same boat. Just 1 semester of orgo lab (though I also have a semester of biochem lab so maybe that will help?).

Anyway, finished the secondary but I'm nowhere near 8000 characters.

8000 characters is just the upper limit. For the question given, I wouldn't write that much. I could honestly answer it in about a paragraph. Keep patient care and ethical principles in mind for that question. That's all the advice I can give for it. It looks like a potentially interesting scenario and one I've had lots of times on Facebook with friends (haha).... Fortunately, my patients have tended to be the kind who trust physicians (even if they're not always the most compliant).

I'm curious if I list interest in family medicine, but decline to be considered for fmSTAT if they'll think that's conflicting? I'm interested in internal/family/GP, but I just want to study in their conventional curriculum.

Not at all. fmSTAT also doesn't really change your curriculum. It and I2CRP both simply add to it. If you're interested in it, go ahead and apply for it (worst thing that can happen is they say no and you're just a regular MD applicant). There's also I2CRP, which offers similar opportunities. (Many fmSTAT students are also I2CRP, btw.)

 

[Noggin]

I responded to this question in a PM. Whether or not MCV requires it is really beside the point. Most schools (I believe including MCV) require a full year of lab. Further, doing the absolute minimum isn't the way to get into medical school. If you had asked that question of me in an interview, I don't think it would have been a good mark in my notes.

I just got word that two quarters at my school actually covers the whole year of ochem lab. It's not about doing the bare minimum as you put it it...its more about if you satisfy the basic requirements at a school. I have a stellar science GPA with many upper division science courses and research units, so I don't really see how admissions could say that I did the absolute minimum academically...

 

[Gust]

so any news on why the prompt changed on the confirmation page?

 

[nate88]

so any news on why the prompt changed on the confirmation page?

Can you post it? I'm not seeing it...

 

[Gust]

Can you post it? I'm not seeing it...

the prompt or what the prompt changed to?

 

[jamiechan]

I just got word that two quarters at my school actually covers the whole year of ochem lab. It's not about doing the bare minimum as you put it it...its more about if you satisfy the basic requirements at a school. I have a stellar science GPA with many upper division science courses and research units, so I don't really see how admissions could say that I did the absolute minimum academically...

Did you get this info from admissions?

Thx for sharing

 

[Noggin]

Did you get this info from admissions?

Thx for sharing

I've talked to advisers at my school, as well as many people who have applied in the past. At many schools (especially the UC's which is where I go), two quarters of organic chemistry lab is the standard. I did not meet one other biology major during my years here who pursued an extra quarter of organic chemistry lab. Only chemistry majors took the last quarter.

 

[BurberryDoc]

I've talked to advisers at my school, as well as many people who have applied in the past. At many schools (especially the UC's which is where I go), two quarters of organic chemistry lab is the standard. I did not meet one other biology major during my years here who pursued an extra quarter of organic chemistry lab. Only chemistry majors took the last quarter.

You should talk to someone at VCU; I'd be cautiously optimistic at most - students at my school were allowed to take either 2 sem of calculus or 1 sem calc and 1 sem stats. I took 2 sem of calculus, but now some med schools require stats- they know you met the requirements at your undergraduate because you need a bachelors to attend medical school - prerequisites are firm, so I would take greater heed of what VCU has to say than a pre-med advisor.