2015-2016 George Washington University Application Thread

[UCGal2016]

FYI for anyone wondering the character limit does NOT include spaces

Noticed that too. MS Word count gives a slightly higher char counts then the GW website does.

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[ciestar]

Secondary also submitted. Now just waiting on my UG to send in my committee letter/letter packet to be complete here.
Crossing my fingers anyway!

 

[slatewater]

For anyone that's submitted the secondary and has their AMCAS verified with LOR's in, has their status in green changed? Mine still reads 'thanks for submitting your secondary, but your AMCAS is not verified etc. etc.'

 

[pb34]

For anyone that's submitted the secondary and has their AMCAS verified with LOR's in, has their status in green changed? Mine still reads 'thanks for submitting your secondary, but your AMCAS is not verified etc. etc.'

Nope, my AMCAS is verified, my letters are all in, and my secondary is submitted but my portal still has that green status thing saying I'm not verified. I'm sure it's just going to take a few days for it to get all caught up.

 

[restlessdriven]

Has anyone here applied for the military fee waiver? I qualify and had no idea it existed until I opened up the secondary. I'm wondering how long it takes to apply.

 

[HooksHook]

I'm not verified yet and probably won't be in the next 2-3 weeks, but I got the secondary today. I should still try to get it in in the 2-3 week window, right?

 

[sandshifter]

Is there any way to check that LOR have been transmitted to GW? Other than having the letter writers listed under GW on the AMCAS app?

 

[UCIpremed4]

received my 2ndary yesterday without being verified!

 

[CLGPureMoist]

received my 2ndary yesterday without being verified!

Same here!

 

[rlarudtjs332]

Their secondary app says "6 semester hours of English" is required... are they serious? like 3 full years of English course? or am I missing something?

 

[rlarudtjs332]

^ My undergrad was a quarter school... so does that mean 9 courses of english?

 

[pb34]

Their secondary app says "6 semester hours of English" is required... are they serious? like 3 full years of English course? or am I missing something?

6 Semester hours meaning two, 3 credit courses.

 

[rlarudtjs332]

6 Semester hours meaning two, 3 credit courses.

Thank you haha i freaked out for like 10 min. i got confused cuz my undergrad labeled every course as 1 unit course.

 

[catchmoresun]

just submitted! hoping for the best

 

[babolat91]

For most meaningful experiences (clinical and community service), is it best to be general so as to encompass all that was done, or be highly specific (a single patient, one aspect of the community service project, etc.)

350 characters is barely 3, maybe 4 sentences. I don't see how i can meaningfully describe some of the more interesting patient interactions I had nor go into great detail about a specific element of the community service I discuss.

It's worth noting that my clinical experience was a most meaningful experience on my primary application, and in my personal statement, I talk about the most interesting individual case I experienced. So I feel like being general is too redundant, and being specific is too redundant (and ineffectual given the character limits).

Thoughts?

 

[kam94]

Submitted my secondary. Will I not be considered for an II until my 2nd MCAT score is in? (29 on first attempt, retaking on 8/6)

 

[pufferfish22]

Does the character count include spaces?

 

[Footystar]

Your application to The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences is complete and has been reviewed by the Admissions Committee. To date, no final decision has been made and the Admissions Committee has placed your application on hold for re-review at a later date. Files are re-reviewed by the committee periodically and there is no set schedule for decisions. We do interview from September through March. Please feel free to update your file during this time using the GW Admissions Portal. If we require any further documentation or if your status changes, we will contact you immediately. We do sincerely appreciate your interest in our program. Thank you for your patience
bummer...

 

[HooksHook]

Your application to The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences is complete and has been reviewed by the Admissions Committee. To date, no final decision has been made and the Admissions Committee has placed your application on hold for re-review at a later date. Files are re-reviewed by the committee periodically and there is no set schedule for decisions. We do interview from September through March. Please feel free to update your file during this time using the GW Admissions Portal. If we require any further documentation or if your status changes, we will contact you immediately. We do sincerely appreciate your interest in our program. Thank you for your patience
bummer...

Wow that was fast. when did you submit the secondary?

 

[tensticks]

Your application to The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences is complete and has been reviewed by the Admissions Committee. To date, no final decision has been made and the Admissions Committee has placed your application on hold for re-review at a later date. Files are re-reviewed by the committee periodically and there is no set schedule for decisions. We do interview from September through March. Please feel free to update your file during this time using the GW Admissions Portal. If we require any further documentation or if your status changes, we will contact you immediately. We do sincerely appreciate your interest in our program. Thank you for your patience
bummer...

What???? how did that happen this early?

 

[quicheduty]

^ Holy **** that was fast. My committee letter isn't even in yet so I guess they don't have the chance to do that to me, yet... lol

 

[Footystar]

Wow that was fast. when did you submit the secondary?

The funny thing is I submitted the secondary on Sunday 7/5 and I was placed on hold in the afternoon Monday 7/6 . But I am assuming this is just because I applied so early and they are waiting for more secondaries to come in.

 

[ScubaManD]

Your application to The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences is complete and has been reviewed by the Admissions Committee. To date, no final decision has been made and the Admissions Committee has placed your application on hold for re-review at a later date. Files are re-reviewed by the committee periodically and there is no set schedule for decisions. We do interview from September through March. Please feel free to update your file during this time using the GW Admissions Portal. If we require any further documentation or if your status changes, we will contact you immediately. We do sincerely appreciate your interest in our program. Thank you for your patience
bummer...

My girlfriend applied here last cycle and got that status too. The next few days her file was then placed onto a different review status and she was extended an interview offer quite shortly afterwards (Early July). One of the first interview days they had too. It may be a transition status. Don't be too bummed.

 

[Footystar]

My girlfriend applied here last cycle and got that status too. The next few days her file was then placed onto a different review status and she was extended an interview offer quite shortly afterwards (Early July). One of the first interview days they had too. It may be a transition status. Don't be too bummed.

That's really nice to hear. Thank you!

 

[neena92]

@Oranges2 Yeah, I have no idea how to get creative for this one!

1. Please provide the Admissions Committee with a brief summary of your activities....for the 2015-2016 application cycle
Well, I listed on my primary that I'm working full-time and volunteering+ shadowing until August 2016 lol

2. What is your most meaningful community service experience to date?
I listed on my primary a community service experience as "most meaningful"

3. What is your most meaningful clinical experience to date, involving direct patient contact?
Also listed on primary under "most meaningful"

4. What makes you a unique individual? What challenges have you faced? How will these factors help you contribute to the diversity of the student body at GW?
I'll use my diversity statement here, but this was also touched on in my PS.

5. What is your specific interest in the MD Program at GW? What opportunities would you take advantage of as a student here? Why?
This is probably the only useful question they've asked on their secondary haha

What kinds of things did you touch on in your diversity statement? @rachiie01

 

[Affiche]

What kinds of things did you touch on in your diversity statement? @rachiie01

Erm...I'm probably not the best person to ask because I have a very unusual background. I have two diversity statements that I'm choosing between for each school based on how the prompt is worded. For one, I discuss being a first-generation American and the perspective that comes with having family struggle to assimilate. For another, I discuss my socioeconomic background, though I wouldn't recommend this to others unless your SES has a very unique story to it.

 

[Affiche]

@neena92 there are all sorts of things you can discuss, though. I've heard of people discussing how they view medicine in the context of music or studying a language. Goro recommends that you answer this question based on what makes you unique. I think his usual response is something like, "If I asked your friends what was cool about you, what would they say?". Go with that

 

[JHUDJA]

Yeah the diversity essay is a little challenging here because it asks 3 different questions. So I think the best way to approach it is to think of a challenge you faced in which you approached/resolved it in a unique way. That will in turn answer how you're a unique individual and will contribute to the diversity.
Obviously there are tons of ways to answer a prompt like this although it's never an easy one to answer!

 

[babolat91]

I submitted my secondary yesterday (July 7h) and my status is as follows,

"Your file is now complete. At this point we have received all the necessary credentials including your secondary application and your letters of recommendation in order for your application to be reviewed. While the committee does its best to review applications in a timely manner, please be aware that in order to do a thorough review of your file it may be several weeks until you hear from us again. We greatly appreciate your patience during the application process. Please feel free to update your file during this time using the GW Admissions Portal."

^That was what it first said when I submitted, so it has yet to change.

 

[catchmoresun]

I submitted my secondary yesterday (July 7h) and my status is as follows,

"Your file is now complete. At this point we have received all the necessary credentials including your secondary application and your letters of recommendation in order for your application to be reviewed. While the committee does its best to review applications in a timely manner, please be aware that in order to do a thorough review of your file it may be several weeks until you hear from us again. We greatly appreciate your patience during the application process. Please feel free to update your file during this time using the GW Admissions Portal."

^That was what it first said when I submitted, so it has yet to change.

I submitted on Friday, July 3 and mine still says this. When did they start giving IIs last year?

 

[lost_enthusiast]

July 10th, according to the 2014-2015 thread.

 

[neena92]

@neena92 there are all sorts of things you can discuss, though. I've heard of people discussing how they view medicine in the context of music or studying a language. Goro recommends that you answer this question based on what makes you unique. I think his usual response is something like, "If I asked your friends what was cool about you, what would they say?". Go with that

Thanks so much @rachiie01

 

[goblue23]

The funny thing is I submitted the secondary on Sunday 7/5 and I was placed on hold in the afternoon Monday 7/6 . But I am assuming this is just because I applied so early and they are waiting for more secondaries to come in.

Do you mind sharing your stats and whether you were OOS or IS? Thank you!

 

[medschooljunglefreak]

For the meaningful clinical experience, would it be bad to repeat a story used in your personal statement? I have others, but there was a clinical experience I had that was so incredibly powerful...

 

[catnipchips]

is it necessary to say why it was meaningful? We already did that in the primary and the question only asks "what is your most meaningful..."

 

[noflag]

Your application to The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences is complete and has been reviewed by the Admissions Committee. To date, no final decision has been made and the Admissions Committee has placed your application on hold for re-review at a later date. Files are re-reviewed by the committee periodically and there is no set schedule for decisions. We do interview from September through March. Please feel free to update your file during this time using the GW Admissions Portal. If we require any further documentation or if your status changes, we will contact you immediately. We do sincerely appreciate your interest in our program. Thank you for your patience
bummer...

got the same status

 

[avatarcycle]

Reapplicant here; hoping for more love this cycle. Would love to be in DC!

 

[Affiche]

is it necessary to say why it was meaningful? We already did that in the primary and the question only asks "what is your most meaningful..."

Honestly I couldn't fit in "why meaningful" lol. I basically did 1 sentence explaining what it was and 1 sentence trying to say why it's meaningful, but it doesn't sound well-crafted at all lol. 350 characters....really?!

 

[Footystar]

.

 

[Spector1]

is gw health policy oriented since its in dc?

 

[ciestar]

is gw health policy oriented since its in dc?

That is definitely something on the website. You have the option to go to Capitol Hill to see how it works.

 

[medschooljunglefreak]

For the meaningful clinical experience, would it be bad to repeat a story used in your personal statement? I have others, but there was a clinical experience I had that was so incredibly powerful...

Anyone?

 

[MatthewDamon]

Anyone?

I'm not really qualified in any way to answer your question but if I were in the Adcom's shoes I'd want to hear something else unless you have a really different spin to it you didn't mention on your PS. After having to read hundreds of apps I would think that if your story was the same in the secondary it would just be glanced over to save time.

 

[ciestar]

For the meaningful clinical experience, would it be bad to repeat a story used in your personal statement? I have others, but there was a clinical experience I had that was so incredibly powerful...

I used a completely different experience than what was in my PS

 

[noflag]

anyone else get the dreaded hold status

 

[catchmoresun]

mine still says my file is complete and ready for review. no movement yet.

 

[MadisonMG]

anyone else get the dreaded hold status

me too. on hold for re-review. I heard it's not a bad thing. That means they liked some parts of your application but were unsure about other parts. Once they go through more applications, they go back and review yours to see how you compare. There's always good and bads things about applying early I guess.

 

[cherubb3]

Did they email you when your status changed?

 

[XxThaDoggxX]

mcat 29, cgpa 3.89 sgpa 3.88, OOS (I know my mcat is low but on their website, it says their average mcat is 30 and average gpa is 3.68)

From what I've seen GWU says they use super-score for MCAT...food for thought

 

[MadisonMG]

Did they email you when your status changed?

No. You have to check it