2014-2015 Virginia Commonwealth University Application Thread

Started by gettheleadout
Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

Browse articles Compare schools My application plan Read Interview Feedback
Practice for interviews Ask an Advisor
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
I'm in the same boat, just finished my essay and logged on to see a new prompt with 6000 less character limit. What gives. Now I don't want to be the guy who submits the original prompt after the new one is up
 
Well, when they give you an 8000 character limit essay prompt after sending out secondaries, and then a week later switch it to a 2000 word prompt without any warning, people are probably gonna be freaking out
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Strange email from VCU a few hours ago. In part:

"The initial file review screening by our subcommittee has identified you as a strong candidate. We begin the interview process in early September. Once a committee member has completed the final review and you are offered an interview, please schedule the interview through the online directions. Mrs. Agnes Mack, the Director of Admissions, has overall responsibility for scheduling interviews and she is assisted by Mr. Joshua Quinn."

This doesn't seem like an interview invite, but it does seem to imply one is coming. I'm just confused why they would send an email like this? Am I supposed to do anything at this point?
 
thebeachisthebest said:
Strange email from VCU a few hours ago. In part:

"The initial file review screening by our subcommittee has identified you as a strong candidate. We begin the interview process in early September. Once a committee member has completed the final review and you are offered an interview, please schedule the interview through the online directions. Mrs. Agnes Mack, the Director of Admissions, has overall responsibility for scheduling interviews and she is assisted by Mr. Joshua Quinn."

This doesn't seem like an interview invite, but it does seem to imply one is coming. I'm just confused why they would send an email like this? Am I supposed to do anything at this point?
Click to expand...
I am fairly certain that does mean you will get an invite. I would just sit back and relax.
 
thebeachisthebest said:
Strange email from VCU a few hours ago. In part:

"The initial file review screening by our subcommittee has identified you as a strong candidate. We begin the interview process in early September. Once a committee member has completed the final review and you are offered an interview, please schedule the interview through the online directions. Mrs. Agnes Mack, the Director of Admissions, has overall responsibility for scheduling interviews and she is assisted by Mr. Joshua Quinn."

This doesn't seem like an interview invite, but it does seem to imply one is coming. I'm just confused why they would send an email like this? Am I supposed to do anything at this point?
Click to expand...

Wow, that is certainly good news! Congrats, I'm sure you'll be getting an II.
 
thebeachisthebest said:
Strange email from VCU a few hours ago. In part:

"The initial file review screening by our subcommittee has identified you as a strong candidate. We begin the interview process in early September. Once a committee member has completed the final review and you are offered an interview, please schedule the interview through the online directions. Mrs. Agnes Mack, the Director of Admissions, has overall responsibility for scheduling interviews and she is assisted by Mr. Joshua Quinn."

This doesn't seem like an interview invite, but it does seem to imply one is coming. I'm just confused why they would send an email like this? Am I supposed to do anything at this point?
Click to expand...

what are your stats? how did your LORs get in? mine still havent come 🙁
 
According to this thread, several people don't have their LORs in yet. I wouldn't worry!
My stats are right around VCU's averages, and I'm IS so maybe that helps. Not URM, veteran, etc.
 
mrh125 said:
yea im in this base too. it's a bit troublesome consider they've already started emailing about potential interviews. hopefully they have a way of mediating this recommendation letter delay issue.
Click to expand...
LOL I'll worry about interviews when I get them. I applied to 22 schools. If VCU doesn't send me the secondary by the time I complete my first few interviews, I'm not gonna worry too much.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Hahahahaahahahahaahahah wowwwww VCU 🤣

I already did the other prompt and submitted, like a week ago! ****. I know we won't be penalized, but I feel like I should have waited or something. :/

@farnell
 
Last edited:
For the question, " Please briefly explain any lapses in your undergraduate education", does that include the gap year I am taking?
 
hoihaie said:
I don't think they would screen by reading the personal statement and my works/activities?
Click to expand...
I could see them looking at hours of volunteering or something along those lines. But I agree, I didn't get the impression that they had read over yet when I called. I believe anyone who is sending out secondaries this early is probably sorting by numbers, not essay content. You can't read 2000+ applications in 5 days, or rather you probably can, but I don't think they did.
 
Just called about the essay prompt change in case anyone was wondering about that! For me, the OLD prompt was showing on the review screen right before you submit. The guy I talked to said to still submit the new question's answer. I'm sure there are several people inquiring about it, so I wouldn't worry if you did the long prompt. 🙂

Officially submitted, fingers crossed!
 
The admissions page has an announcement regarding the essays and the character limits- be sure to pay attention to it.
 
Looks like the first essay topic is still an option until the 16th, although with a character limit of 2000. Good.
 
Does anyone's file say complete? they received my secondary, green card copy, the fee and the letters (which reflects on their website) but I'm still incomplete.
 
Mine finally changed to complete today. I submitted my secondary 7/6 and it took a few days for the LOR's to show as received but after that it immediately switched to complete.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
BioEngMD said:
Mine finally changed to complete today. I submitted my secondary 7/6 and it took a few days for the LOR's to show as received but after that it immediately switched to complete.
Click to expand...
Mine shows they received my LORs last week, but still not complete.

probably taking time to process the green card which I sent in 2 days ago.
 
When was the last of the required materials submitted? I'd give it a day or two after that date and then contact them if it still hasn't changed.
 
BioEngMD said:
When was the last of the required materials submitted? I'd give it a day or two after that date and then contact them if it still hasn't changed.
Click to expand...
submitted everything 7/7.. so 1 day after you, but letters were processed earlier. I'll wait till the end of the week.
 
So on the site, for LOR it says 3 letters of recommendation from those who know you well from a supervisory position.

I called the office to ensure there were no specific requirements for these LOR and they said nothing specific required, but on the secondary site when I click on the "INCOMPLETE" link, it says
  • Letters of Recommendation --2 Science and 1 Non-Science OR Prehealth Committee Packet (see the Instructions/Forms section for more details)
I submitted 1 science and 2 engineering faculty references in addition to some employment ones. Do you think this will be an issue?
 
pink/\floyd said:
Does anyone's file say complete? they received my secondary, green card copy, the fee and the letters (which reflects on their website) but I'm still incomplete.
Click to expand...
I submitted 7/2 and sent green card next morning, letters marked revived 7/2 but also currently incomplete. I called today and they said it could take one to two weeks to add. Hopefully we are complete soon though.
 
Has anyone else had any difficulty logging in? I received an email that my status had changed, which I am hoping means I received a secondary, but I haven't been able to log in. I've tried Firefox and Internet Explorer, and triple checked my AAMC ID number. I'm putting in my PIN correctly, too (bday), and it keeps telling me "We're sorry. Your AAMC ID or your pin was not found."

Any thoughts? Next step is to email their tech support, but I wanted to double check and make sure I am not doing anything dumb.

Thanks!
 
need_some_coffee said:
Has anyone else had any difficulty logging in? I received an email that my status had changed, which I am hoping means I received a secondary, but I haven't been able to log in. I've tried Firefox and Internet Explorer, and triple checked my AAMC ID number. I'm putting in my PIN correctly, too (bday), and it keeps telling me "We're sorry. Your AAMC ID or your pin was not found."

Any thoughts? Next step is to email their tech support, but I wanted to double check and make sure I am not doing anything dumb.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
This exact same thing is happening to me!!! Not sure what to do...will you tell me what tech support tells ya?

EDIT: I clicked the "forgot pin" and it emailed me NOT my birthday...I guess I must have set up a different pin before when they sent me that original email and just totally forgot about it! So I'd rec clicking the forgot thing and they'll email it to you pretty quickly!
 
Tom Ford said:
This exact same thing is happening to me!!! Not sure what to do...will you tell me what tech support tells ya?

EDIT: I clicked the "forgot pin" and it emailed me NOT my birthday...I guess I must have set up a different pin before when they sent me that original email and just totally forgot about it! So I'd rec clicking the forgot thing and they'll email it to you pretty quickly!
Click to expand...

<facepalm> Me too. Thanks very much for saving me from myself! : )
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Damn it I pre-wrote the 8,000 one (used 3,500) and submitted the first day secondaries came out. I'm really hoping they honor it.
 
NYerrr said:
Yes, same as last year. And curable cancer question is not short if they are giving you 8000 characters.
Click to expand...
Did the prompt for this question change overnight? I swear I saw the curable cancer prompt the first time I logged in. But now I see a different prompt --> 2000 characters and about menstrual cramps. Any thoughts?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

wysdoc
2025-2026 Virginia Commonwealth (VCU)
11 12 13 14 15
Replies
741
Views
211K
vameds
V
wysdoc
2025-2026 University of Virginia
2 3 4
Replies
169
Views
72K
Mistyforest1
M
wysdoc
2024-2025 Virginia Commonwealth
21 22 23 24 25
Replies
1K
Views
346K
Balgravia Shion
Balgravia Shion
chilly_md
2025-2026 Commonwealth (Geisinger)
2 3 4 5 6
Replies
255
Views
81K
mangosintahiti
M
wysdoc
2023-2024 Virginia Commonwealth
17 18 19 20 21
Replies
1K
Views
301K
dancegal16
D