2015-2016 Central Michigan University Application Thread

[SwimOn]

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So, as a student who will be the fourth class taking Step, should I be worried about such results? Or should I be feeling more encouraged that the curriculum will more than likely be improving, and should hope to see better results by the time my class takes Step?

I would feel encouraged. We now have way more thing in place that the first years didn't have. We have Dr. Drake, we get retired NBME questions on exams, the curriculum now covers biostats way more, we have a larger number of faculty with experience to answer questions. Also we have a ton of time to prep for step. M2s will be done after next week and have the rest of the time to just focus on Step, and also don't forget step requires a lot of you putting your own time in and scheduling yourself. So if you're not prepped for that you may not be ready to prep for step and will get a worse score then expected. It kinda all relies on you and how well you can prep for exams and retain from the coursework (and not just memorize but be able to put into practice).

 

[skip459]

I would feel encouraged. We now have way more thing in place that the first years didn't have. We have Dr. Drake, we get retired NBME questions on exams, the curriculum now covers biostats way more, we have a larger number of faculty with experience to answer questions. Also we have a ton of time to prep for step. M2s will be done after next week and have the rest of the time to just focus on Step, and also don't forget step requires a lot of you putting your own time in and scheduling yourself. So if you're not prepped for that you may not be ready to prep for step and will get a worse score then expected. It kinda all relies on you and how well you can prep for exams and retain from the coursework (and not just memorize but be able to put into practice).

I definitely agree with this. Thank you for your input.

 

[Sc1entific]

Seems like standard practice to me! https://www.cmich.edu/ourcmu/Pages/LCME-status-update.aspx

When was this article posted? I do not see a date, although maybe it's not showing up on my phone. The article reads like it was written roughly a year ago. CMED's fourth class is set to begin August 1. Whether the transition from preliminary to provisional accreditation is anticipated or has already happened should make a big difference for those who are prospective and also worried.

Also worth noting is the fact that CMED was originally on a 5 year accreditation plan. http://fox17online.com/2013/01/02/cmu-medical-school-granted-five-year-accreditation/

 

[SwimOn]

When was this article posted? I do not see a date, although maybe it's not showing up on my phone. The article reads like it was written roughly a year ago. CMED's fourth class is set to begin August 1. Whether the transition from preliminary to provisional accreditation is anticipated or has already happened should make a big difference for those who are prospective and also worried.

Also worth noting is the fact that CMED was originally on a 5 year accreditation plan. http://fox17online.com/2013/01/02/cmu-medical-school-granted-five-year-accreditation/

The first article was probably posted this summer, because it sounds like it was written between when the LCME visited and the 3rd years started their clerkships. The last article you posted is for our residency programs, not the school. Which our programs did receive full accreditation by the GME this year, https://www.cmich.edu/news/article/...tion-programs-achieve-full-accreditation.aspx. The GME and LCME are two different boards and are not related in any way (at least I don't think they are). Though I'm sure the accreditation of the programs run by CMED will look good to the LCME.

 

[Sc1entific]

The first article was probably posted this summer, because it sounds like it was written between when the LCME visited and the 3rd years started their clerkships. The last article you posted is for our residency programs, not the school. Which our programs did receive full accreditation by the GME this year, https://www.cmich.edu/news/article/...tion-programs-achieve-full-accreditation.aspx. The GME and LCME are two different boards and are not related in any way (at least I don't think they are). Though I'm sure the accreditation of the programs run by CMED will look good to the LCME.

Ah, thank you for the correction. My non-medical fiance sent me the link and I should have checked the article out before posting. It still would appear to me that CMED is well on its way to LCME accreditation.

 

[anthonycrispino]

I would agree. Could any students comment on team based learning? During my interview day, we walked by a room filled with what I thought were M2s working together on something. It looked pretty hectic and vocal, so I was just curious as to how that goes usually?

 

[swag7]

I would agree. Could any students comment on team based learning? During my interview day, we walked by a room filled with what I thought were M2s working together on something. It looked pretty hectic and vocal, so I was just curious as to how that goes usually?

Current M1 here. I'm a fan of TBL. We'll typically prep for a TBL session beforehand by looking over assigned pre-readings or lecture slides. First thing you do is take a quiz independently (5-10 questions), then you take that same quiz with your TBL group (same as your PBL/CBL group). After that, the instructor(s) will go over the quiz with the class and answer any questions. Then we are presented with application questions that we work on with our group. For these questions we can use outside/class resources, unlike the quizzes. It can get loud in there when everyone is discussing questions, but it doesn't interfere with the group work. I'd take TBL over lecture most days, but that might just be me. I like practice questions and I like my group. I know others who would rather be at home watching lecture recordings or sleeping. If you have more questions feel free to pm me. I also wanted to say that I am happy here at CMU. I don't know anyone in my class who has outwardly expressed their distaste for the program.

 

[anthonycrispino]

Current M1 here. I'm a fan of TBL. We'll typically prep for a TBL session beforehand by looking over assigned pre-readings or lecture slides. First thing you do is take a quiz independently (5-10 questions), then you take that same quiz with your TBL group (same as your PBL/CBL group). After that, the instructor(s) will go over the quiz with the class and answer any questions. Then we are presented with application questions that we work on with our group. For these questions we can use outside/class resources, unlike the quizzes. It can get loud in there when everyone is discussing questions, but it doesn't interfere with the group work. I'd take TBL over lecture most days, but that might just be me. I like practice questions and I like my group. I know others who would rather be at home watching lecture recordings or sleeping. If you have more questions feel free to pm me. I also wanted to say that I am happy here at CMU. I don't know anyone in my class who has outwardly expressed their distaste for the program.

We'll my next question was about recorded lectures but you already answered it! Thanks for the reply!

 

[DreamBig01]

Could any current students comment on the rotation sites? It looks like all students have to move to Saginaw or Detroit currently. Is there any news about the possibility of adding more rotation sites, even one in Mount Pleasant?

 

[Em4234]

Does anyone know how is the waitlist movement of CMU ? Should we keep the hope up or chances are below 10% (for OOS/Int applicants) 😕

 

[star.buck]

Does anyone know how is the waitlist movement of CMU ? Should we keep the hope up or chances are below 10% (for OOS/Int applicants) 😕

I would say, parking on the waitlist doesn't hurt you and you never really know what will happen. I'm guessing there will be a lot of movement during the last few weeks in April and the beginning of May. Unless you have other acceptances you know you want more, hang tight!

 

[Em4234]

I would say, parking on the waitlist doesn't hurt you and you never really know what will happen. I'm guessing there will be a lot of movement during the last few weeks in April and the beginning of May. Unless you have other acceptances you know you want more, hang tight!

Do you know how many people are usually in the waitlist ? Like is it 104 accepted 104 waitlisted 104 on hold etc ?
Also did anyone figure out if there is a priority waitlist in this cycle ?

 

[prettylittledoctor22]

Do you know how many people are usually in the waitlist ? Like is it 104 accepted 104 waitlisted 104 on hold etc ?
Also did anyone figure out if there is a priority waitlist in this cycle ?

They explicitly said in the interview that there is no priority waitlist/ranking this year 🙂

 

[star.buck]

Do you know...Like is it 104 accepted 104 waitlisted 104 on hold etc ?
?

No priority waitlist, as prettylittle said, and I don't know of anywhere that the accepted/waitlisted statistics are available. MSAR doesn't even have this information.

You could go back through last year's posts, and see how many came off the waitlist. Again, I'd go to the posts after April 30. That's a big date in the med school application cycle.

 

[Traumahawk]

Another long-time lurker emerging from the shadows. Interviewed 28 Jan, decision 9 Feb.

Despite prettylittle's interviewer's assertion, I can confirm from my own decision documents that there is a priority waitlist. To quote:

"At this point in time, we are unable to offer you a place in the CMED class of 2020 (entering in August 2016). However, we would like to offer you a spot on our priority waitlist, from which offers will be extended as space becomes available. The priority waitlist only contains a handful of applicants and we expect that we will be able to extend offers to this list before the April 30th decision deadline for accepted applicants. You may accept or decline your position on this waitlist using the online admissions system."
"We anticipate that all applicants from the priority waitlist will ultimately be accepted into the CMED class of 2020. No additional updates to your application are needed at this time."​

I also know another staffer in my department is on the same priority waitlist, so I don't suspect a misprint or recycling of letters from other admission cycles.

Congrats to all who secured direct admission... the rest of us hope to join you soon!

 

[star.buck]

Another long-time lurker emerging from the shadows. Interviewed 28 Jan, decision 9 Feb.

Despite prettylittle's interviewer's assertion, I can confirm from my own decision documents that there is a priority waitlist. To quote:

"At this point in time, we are unable to offer you a place in the CMED class of 2020 (entering in August 2016). However, we would like to offer you a spot on our priority waitlist, from which offers will be extended as space becomes available. The priority waitlist only contains a handful of applicants and we expect that we will be able to extend offers to this list before the April 30th decision deadline for accepted applicants. You may accept or decline your position on this waitlist using the online admissions system."
"We anticipate that all applicants from the priority waitlist will ultimately be accepted into the CMED class of 2020. No additional updates to your application are needed at this time."​

I also know another staffer in my department is on the same priority waitlist, so I don't suspect a misprint or recycling of letters from other admission cycles.

Congrats to all who secured direct admission... the rest of us hope to join you soon!

I stand corrected! This does go against what I was told at the interview day, which is interesting. Maybe they have changed things since December?

 

[Traumahawk]

I stand corrected! This does go against what I was told at the interview day, which is interesting. Maybe they have changed things since December?

That's certainly possible... perhaps the ADCOM decides whether or not to "activate" X number of spots on the priority waitlist based on the overall strength of the admitted vs. waitlisted candidate pools, or based on some other criterion?

 

[Em4234]

I interviewed late in the cycle and I was also told that we should expect to get: accepted - waitlisted - hold - rejected even in their website (the map of admission process) nothing has been said about priority waitlist. But considering that they had priority waitlist in previous years i dont see why they wouldn have one this year. As they said in the email only a few people are in that list thats why no body said anything in SDN. Are you IS or OOS if you dont mind me asking ?
I would consider being placed on "priority waitlist" an acceptance man! Congratz 😉 hope we also get lucky CMU is my first choice 🙂

 

[Em4234]

Posted twice 😉

 

[Traumahawk]

Thanks! As I've told a few of my colleagues, it's almost as good as an outright acceptance, but with the added fun of sitting on waitlist tenterhooks. 😀

To answer your question, IS, nontraditional applicant - though honestly, I think I saw more "nontraditional applicants" represented than traditionals! CMU does seem to recruit heavily from outside the mainstream, which is one of the things that attracted me to their program. I'll be interested to see how that translates to the clinical environment and future residency prospects, and whether they keep that approach for future classes.

Best of luck to you! I'll be counting down to 30 April right along with you. 🙂

 

[prettylittledoctor22]

Thanks! As I've told a few of my colleagues, it's almost as good as an outright acceptance, but with the added fun of sitting on waitlist tenterhooks. 😀

To answer your question, IS, nontraditional applicant - though honestly, I think I saw more "nontraditional applicants" represented than traditionals! CMU does seem to recruit heavily from outside the mainstream, which is one of the things that attracted me to their program. I'll be interested to see how that translates to the clinical environment and future residency prospects, and whether they keep that approach for future classes.

Best of luck to you! I'll be counting down to 30 April right along with you. 🙂

I'm sorry about the misinformation everyone! Just stating what was said during my interview 🙂 Congrats on the priority waitlist email, that's amazing!!

 

[Traumahawk]

No apology necessary! 🙂 As I mentioned to star.buck, I wouldn't be surprised if the priority waitlist vs. regular waitlist is a flexible option that they can activate or not based on needs and candidate pool characteristics, which would be a very good reason not to publicize it. (I could see grounds for major disappointment and dissatisfaction - and a LOT of waitlist withdrawals - among applicants if they were told routinely that there are two waitlists, thence to find that that year's applicant pool had only used one.)

 

[Em4234]

Since ppl on the priority waitlist will hear back before the April 30th, im guessing reg waitlist starts moving in May then. One more month to go ...

 

[DrKCK]

Hi all! Just started checking this thread a couple days ago and saw the convo about the priority waitlist. I've been priority waitlisted since Dec. 8th. Just received an acceptance letter this morning so they have started going through that list. OOS, non-traditional.

Best of luck to all waitlisted!

 

[EyePlumber2020]

Just formally withdrew my acceptance to CMed. Good luck to all of you it's a fantastic program!

 

[Traumahawk]

My acceptance just arrived this morning as well! Congrats to all!!!

 

[star.buck]

Hi all! Just started checking this thread a couple days ago and saw the convo about the priority waitlist. I've been priority waitlisted since Dec. 8th. Just received an acceptance letter this morning so they have started going through that list. OOS, non-traditional.

Best of luck to all waitlisted!

My acceptance just arrived this morning as well! Congrats to all!!!

Congrats!!! Welcome to the Class of 2020!!! You're gonna be DOCTORS!

 

[maripandy]

They explicitly said in the interview that there is no priority waitlist/ranking this year 🙂

I interviewed late January. They told us the committee would meet on Feb 8th and if you got in you would get a phone call. The next day I got an email saying I was on the "priority" waitlist. Yesterday I got an acceptance email.

 

[prettylittledoctor22]

I interviewed late January. They told us the committee would meet on Feb 8th and if you got in you would get a phone call. The next day I got an email saying I was on the "priority" waitlist. Yesterday I got an acceptance email.

Congratulations to everyone that got accepted!!! Happy for my fellow pre-meds whose dreams are coming true!
As stated above, I was only expressing what was directly said in my interview. I was unaware that there was a priority waitlist because of what was said 🙂

 

[Em4234]

Congratulations!! It surely feels great to know where you will be in Aug! Are you guys IS or OOS btw ?
That is way earlier than wat i saw on last year's thread (offers to priority waitlist went out in April)

Does that mean that reg waitlist movement can be anytime soon ! Since they expect any updates to be sent after the 15th i dont think thats the case :/

 

[DrKCK]

Congratulations!! It surely feels great to know where you will be in Aug! Are you guys IS or OOS btw ?
That is way earlier than wat i saw on last year's thread (offers to priority waitlist went out in April)

Does that mean that reg waitlist movement can be anytime soon ! Since they expect any updates to be sent after the 15th i dont think thats the case :/

OOS for me. Since priority decisions came out almost a month earlier than they did last year (at least according to SDN), I certainly hope it means movement on the reg waitlist will occur sooner for all those eagerly waiting to begin this journey!!

 

[Em4234]

To those of us in the waitlist: the new version of MSAR includes info about waitlist of schools.

CMU :
approximately 100 people in the waitlist
# of acceptences offered to waitlisted students: 60

Thats about 60%. not that bad

 

[onailujol]

On the "regular" waitlist, what day can we start to send in updates again? Thanks, and here's to hoping for a lot of movement this year!

 

[Em4234]

On the "regular" waitlist, what day can we start to send in updates again? Thanks, and here's to hoping for a lot of movement this year!

"If you wish to update your application, you may submit additional information via email beginning April 15, 2016. No additional updates are needed at this time."

Starting tomorrow med schools can see where everybody have been accepted/waitlisted so far! CMU has already started giving acceptances to ppl in priority waitlist a month earlier than last year. So maybe we start hearing soon (i really hope so)

 

[Em4234]

Has anybody called and asked when the regular waitlist movement begins ? Like are they gunna contact people as space becomes available or they will wait to receive the updates first (after the 15th)?

 

[URMinority]

Does Central Michigan allow accepted student to postpone their matriculation by a year if they have a good reason?

 

[anthonycrispino]

Does Central Michigan allow accepted student to postpone their matriculation by a year if they have a good reason?

I do believe you are able to defer your acceptance for a year, as per the handbook. I would definitely email admissions though.

 

[star.buck]

Has anybody called and asked when the regular waitlist movement begins ? Like are they gunna contact people as space becomes available or they will wait to receive the updates first (after the 15th)?

I would guess it begins to really move after the April 30 traffic deadline set by the AAMC.

 

[Sc1entific]

Does Central Michigan allow accepted student to postpone their matriculation by a year if they have a good reason?

I was accepted into the 2015 entering class, and deferred my admission to enter with this year's class. CMED was totally understanding and really accommodating. PM me if you want to chat about it.

 

[anthonycrispino]

Can anyone who attended second look day comment on how it went for those of us who were unable to attend? (i.e. impressions, expectations, next-step things)

 

[stodda57]

Has anyone heard back about scholarships yet?

 

[star.buck]

Can anyone who attended second look day comment on how it went for those of us who were unable to attend? (i.e. impressions, expectations, next-step things)

1. I fell in love with the school, its sense of community, its people, what it stands for, and what it will offer me as a future student.
2. The above, again.
3. Starting on Tuesdays we will start receiving emails with the information necessary for matriculation
4. Mandatory orientation starts August 1.
5. White coat ceremony is August 5, mid afternoon.
6. We should receive financial aid award notices early this week.
7. #1. again.
8. PM me if you had specific questions, I probably have notes about it in my folder.

 

[prettylittledoctor22]

1. I fell in love with the school, its sense of community, its people, what it stands for, and what it will offer me as a future student.
2. The above, again.
3. Starting on Tuesdays we will start receiving emails with the information necessary for matriculation
4. Mandatory orientation starts August 1.
5. White coat ceremony is August 5, mid afternoon.
6. We should receive financial aid award notices early this week.
7. #1. again.
8. PM me if you had specific questions, I probably have notes about it in my folder.

Did they by chance mention mention if the class is full?

 

[star.buck]

Did they by chance mention mention if the class is full?

They did not... however you stand a decent chance of getting off the wait list after April 30. Hang tight if you are wait listed (but still make plans to apply again, imho). ( I believe someone previously said it was something like a 60% chance of getting accepted off the wait list... )

 

[Traumahawk]

Can anyone who attended second look day comment on how it went for those of us who were unable to attend? (i.e. impressions, expectations, next-step things)

What star.buck said... super impressed with the school, the faculty and the students. I also attended the optional after-dinner with the M1/M2s and had a great conversation with the guys at my end of the table. There really doesn't seem to be anything the faculty won't do to help us succeed. (Example: when the pathology professor took a LOA in the middle of last school year, CMED gave each student a free subscription to Pathoma to cover any didactic gaps while they arranged class coverage.)

Not officially part of Second Look, but well worth noting: apartments are going like hotcakes, so I'd recommend you prioritize searching for a residence or a roomie. Health Professions (that complex the one M2's dad owns) is completely booked, and Tallgrass is booking up fairly quick as well. CMU Grad Housing is completely full until end of next year (those are booked on 2-year leases and are totally full of all the other grad programs' students at this point...)

Next step items (deposits, transcripts, health records, white coat sizing, et al) will be coming in the "Tuesday Topics" email series they'll be sending to your cmich.edu account, starting sometime the week after next. Instructions for email access are in your paper acceptance packet, which everyone who's accepted should have by this point. (Priority waitlist people should have received it yesterday if in MI, and likely will get it today if OOS.)

Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions!

 

[anthonycrispino]

Thanks for the replies! Helpful and insightful. I'm bummed I couldn't make it. I already have housing tied up for the fall.

 

[bradnjk]

Financial aid award packets are in. Anyone on here receive a scholarship?

 

[star.buck]

Financial aid award packets are in. Anyone on here receive a scholarship?

nope

 

[stodda57]

Financial aid award packets are in. Anyone on here receive a scholarship?

nope

+1

 

[skip459]

Financial aid award packets are in. Anyone on here receive a scholarship?

nope