2015-2016 Virginia Commonwealth University Application Thread

[coldcase331]

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I think they just want:
"ER Volunteer, new research project, discovered the cure for cancer, etc."

Is it just me, or is the character count allotted for the reapplication update ridiculously small? (150 characters) It's basically one sentence.

"VOLUNTEERINGCLASSESCLINICEXPERIENCEANDOTHERIMPORTANTTHINGSPLEASEDONTJUDGEMYRUNONSENTENCE"

 

[golfman7]

Secondary received today. OOS, LizzyM 66-67 verified AMCAS app 7/29.

Is it true about the screening for secondaries being a relatively big deal for VCU? Anyone have stats for portion of people who get II's post secondary screening? (if they do in fact screen out a significant amount of people that is..)

VCU screens out 2/3 of the applicants prior to secondary, so it's definitely worth filling out. I think 30-40 percent of completed secondaries get interviewed here, so not a guarantee but good odds nonetheless.

 

[Rainbow Zebra]

Got this status update yesterday evening: "The Committee's file review indicates that they are very interested in your candidacy. We are trying to get all candidates at your priority score interviewed as soon as possible if we have an adequate number of interview slots. Please anticipate an e-mail from us regarding a possible interview date. " Sounds promising, but we'll see.

 

[Gregory House the real MD]

Got this status update yesterday evening: "The Committee's file review indicates that they are very interested in your candidacy. We are trying to get all candidates at your priority score interviewed as soon as possible if we have an adequate number of interview slots. Please anticipate an e-mail from us regarding a possible interview date. " Sounds promising, but we'll see.

mind sharing when u submitted and possibly your stats?

 

[Rainbow Zebra]

mind sharing when u submitted and possibly your stats?

Submitted first week did the original question from last year.LizzyM 73.5

 

[Giovanni_TR]

@Rainbow Zebra did you get a status change email or just notice a change on your portal?

 

[Rainbow Zebra]

@Rainbow Zebra did you get a status change email or just notice a change on your portal?

Got an email from VCU that I had a status change in my portal. I am applying to 25 schools, no way can I keep on top of looking at portals, work fulltime +. I only look at stuff when I get an email.

 

[piii]

Has anyone in the screening phase for weeks called to see what the deal is? It has been like three weeks.

 

[hopeful 1st doc]

Has anyone in the screening phase for weeks called to see what the deal is? It has been like three weeks.

Haven't called but if you do, please let us know what they say. I too, am curious

 

[vantheman]

Does everyone else's look like this? I am confused if they are trying to say that my app is on hold for grades... Any idea?

 

[Clockwork Biology]

Does everyone else's look like this?

I was a little thrown by that too, but it's just poor design layout. No need to stress, you're not on hold.

 

[Eccesignum]

View attachment 194788

Does everyone else's look like this? I am confused if they are trying to say that my app is on hold for grades... Any idea?

Mine's looked like this since the third week of July.

 

[akai1412]

Anyone with primary verified 6/22 or before and still waiting for 2nd?

 

[golfman7]

Got the subcomitte status as well.

 

[Intomidate]

Mine just went from "Your M.D. file is now complete. The Sub-Committee will now do a review of your application. Once this review is complete, you will receive a status update regarding your profile".

to:

"Your profile is currently being reviewed by the Sub-Committee. This review will determine whether or not your profile will be forwarded for File Review. You may check your status online at any point during this process".

Doesn't sound very promising but I guess it's better than a rejection?

 

[golfman7]

Mine just went from "Your M.D. file is now complete. The Sub-Committee will now do a review of your application. Once this review is complete, you will receive a status update regarding your profile".

to:

"Your profile is currently being reviewed by the Sub-Committee. This review will determine whether or not your profile will be forwarded for File Review. You may check your status online at any point during this process".

Doesn't sound very promising but I guess it's better than a rejection?

Same status as well, probably means they just got to our apps for review.

 

[bshap000]

Mine just went from "Your M.D. file is now complete. The Sub-Committee will now do a review of your application. Once this review is complete, you will receive a status update regarding your profile".

to:

"Your profile is currently being reviewed by the Sub-Committee. This review will determine whether or not your profile will be forwarded for File Review. You may check your status online at any point during this process".

Doesn't sound very promising but I guess it's better than a rejection?

I just got that too, my guess is that it just means that our apps are up next for subcommittee review.

 

[partypantss]

Mine just went from "Your M.D. file is now complete. The Sub-Committee will now do a review of your application. Once this review is complete, you will receive a status update regarding your profile".

to:

"Your profile is currently being reviewed by the Sub-Committee. This review will determine whether or not your profile will be forwarded for File Review. You may check your status online at any point during this process".

Doesn't sound very promising but I guess it's better than a rejection?

What do you mean by "doesn't sound very promising?" It's just telling you that you file is now getting reviewed.. It means absolutely nothing except that they are now looking at your app.

 

[Intomidate]

What do you mean by "doesn't sound very promising?" It's just telling you that you file is now getting reviewed.. It means absolutely nothing except that they are now looking at your app.

Well I looked at the first one as a "initial subcommittee review" kind of message since it explicitly says "once the review is complete, you will get a status update".

Cue two weeks later, I get the status update and I get the second message. I read it as the initial review didn't seem favorable since people were getting other status updates along the lines of "possible interview, blah blah blah" and now i'm getting a second subcommittee review to determine if I make it further. Yes part of it is probably my neuroticism, but its not like the status update is telling me otherwise.

 

[AvrgPreMedKid]

I got the "further review" update yesterday, and today it was updated to basically "we would like to interview you but not sure if we have enough time slots."

 

[Strykeforce]

Same status as well, probably means they just got to our apps for review.

I have had this status since 7/27 - not sure how long this step typically takes.

 

[nRomaleos]

did everyone manage to elaborate on the ethics question for 2000 characters???

 

[HipHopDancing]

Has ANYONE who did the application before they changed the essay gotten an interview

 

[4-cyclohexene]

Hiphop, I did the old essay, was complete on 7/4 and have not heard from them. My file status is still under sub committee review

 

[Eccesignum]

Has ANYONE who did the application before they changed the essay gotten an interview

Old essay here too, haven't even made it through sub committee review yet.

 

[candyreign]

Has ANYONE who did the application before they changed the essay gotten an interview

Didn't they issue some type of notice that you all had to redo the new essay? I definitely saw this somewhere, but I could be mistaking this for another school or last year's VCU thread. Don't freak out because I could be totally wrong on this. I just want to put it out there, just in case that may be the issue.

 

[Wolfpack2014]

No, someone called the office, and they said if we submitted the old essay before they changed it then we don't have to redo it.

 

[Caffein3]

I'm gonna call the office today. I haven't been either rejected or granted a secondary, and it's almost been a month.

 

[Affiche]

I'm gonna call the office today. I haven't been either rejected or granted a secondary, and it's almost been a month.

Have you checked the portal? You just need your AAMC ID and birth date. I never received an email but when I logged in it said that I had been granted one.

 

[Caffein3]

Yeah I keep checking the portal and it still says they are doing a "preliminary review" of my app. Maybe that just means I got screen out?? Haha

 

[hueso]

Oh man, wish I had checked this thread earlier. Who knows how long that secondary was sitting there waiting.

 

[VegasPreMed]

So, I submitted my app on 7/11. LOR's were sent out on 7/22. I'm still Incomplete. Should I e-mail or just keep waiting? Only school I'm not complete at.

 

[djtanner]

So, I submitted my app on 7/11. LOR's were sent out on 7/22. I'm still Incomplete. Should I e-mail or just keep waiting? Only school I'm not complete at.

I was complete on 7/23 and my letters were not marked as received until yesterday. On the phone they told me it takes about 2 weeks for letters to show up as complete.

 

[NYCpremed212]

So if I haven't received a secondary yet (AMCAS verified 6/29), I shouldn't expect the secondary? 🙁 If you received a secondary, when was your amcas verified?

 

[Spector1]

So if I haven't received a secondary yet (AMCAS verified 6/29), I shouldn't expect the secondary? 🙁 If you received a secondary, when was your amcas verified?

try calling them

 

[exodian1]

Wow so I just read this thread. Never got an email for a secondary but was able to log into the portal just now... who knows how long I've had this secondary for

 

[NYCpremed212]

GUYS I LOGGED IN THE PORTAL AND WAS GRANTED A SECONDARY OVER A MONTH AGO. THANXS SO MUCH SCHOOL FOR LETTING ME KNOW -.-

 

[maybedeadcat]

Verified 6/3, submitted preliminary on 7/23 (waiting for MCAT), and I STILL haven't gotten a secondary. Wtf is going on? My LizzyM is 71 so I *shouldn't* be screened out...

Edit- yes, I've checked

 

[VegasPreMed]

Finally complete! Woo!

 

[kubb_champ]

GUYS I LOGGED IN THE PORTAL AND WAS GRANTED A SECONDARY OVER A MONTH AGO. THANXS SO MUCH SCHOOL FOR LETTING ME KNOW -.-

If you click on "file status," you can check when the secondary is due. If you do not have enough time, send them an email =)

 

[SallySue1202]

Verified 6/3, submitted preliminary on 7/23 (waiting for MCAT), and I STILL haven't gotten a secondary. Wtf is going on? My lizzym is 71 so I *shouldn't* be screened out...

Edit- yes, I've checked

Hang in there! VCU employs a "holistic" screen before sending out secondaries--not just a stat screen like most other schools. Only about 30% of applicants are asked to complete the secondary.

 

[justdoit1234]

I was verified 7/31, and hadn't received any emails from them. I was curious and went on their website, and signed into the secondary app portfolio and it said I had received a secondary on 8/3. i still haven't received a single email from them, so would it be safe to fill out the secondary or should i wait for an email?

 

[maybedeadcat]

Hang in there! VCU employs a "holistic" screen before sending out secondaries--not just a stat screen like most other schools. Only about 30% of applicants are asked to complete the secondary.

Thanks! I was not aware that it was a holistic screen. How much longer should I wait before giving them a call?

 

[deleted642188]

Quick question,y'all I just submitted my secondary but i am so nervous but is there any section that asks to further explain institutional actions on VCU's secondary? and when will they make a decision?

I double checked but the anxiety is getting to me!!!

TYVM

 

[NYCpremed212]

If you click on "file status," you can check when the secondary is due. If you do not have enough time, send them an email =)

Yes I was still on time. Thankfully it was one very short question and finished it today! I emailed them anyways in case they have a bad impression on submitting a month later...

 

[Almighty Saguaro]

I was verified 7/31, and hadn't received any emails from them. I was curious and went on their website, and signed into the secondary app portfolio and it said I had received a secondary on 8/3. i still haven't received a single email from them, so would it be safe to fill out the secondary or should i wait for an email?

So you received no email from them whatsoever? Not even a confirmation that they received your primary?
That's the boat I"m in but when I try to log onto the secondary like you did, it says: "We're sorry. Your AAMC ID or your pin was not found."

This is the site where I found the secondary: (https://www.apps.som.vcu.edu/app_web/login/login.aspx)

 

[justdoit1234]

So you received no email from them whatsoever? Not even a confirmation that they received your primary?
That's the boat I"m in but when I try to log onto the secondary like you did, it says: "We're sorry. Your AAMC ID or your pin was not found."

This is the site where I found the secondary: (https://www.apps.som.vcu.edu/app_web/login/login.aspx)

Yup, that's what happened to me. When did you get verified? According to others on this thread, they send out secondary invites in batches. Like some people get them 1 day after verification, others get them 2 weeks after. Maybe I was one of the lucky ones who got it a few days after. If it's been over two weeks, I'd give them a call since it seems like they've been having a lot of technical difficulties.

Also, maybe another quick fix is that you have to hit first time logging in, or whatever it says, to create a pin. I think the default pin they give you is your birthday (MMYYYY, but don't quote me on that its on their website somewhere). Try that if you haven't.

 

[Caffein3]

Its been three weeks since I've been verified with them and I still haven't gotten a secondary. I called them yesterday and they were very nice. They said that they have gone through 4000 applications already, but have a few thousand left to do. You will receive an email if you are pre-screen rejected or anything like that.

 

[Almighty Saguaro]

Yup, that's what happened to me. When did you get verified? According to others on this thread, they send out secondary invites in batches. Like some people get them 1 day after verification, others get them 2 weeks after. Maybe I was one of the lucky ones who got it a few days after. If it's been over two weeks, I'd give them a call since it seems like they've been having a lot of technical difficulties.

Also, maybe another quick fix is that you have to hit first time logging in, or whatever it says, to create a pin. I think the default pin they give you is your birthday (MMYYYY, but don't quote me on that its on their website somewhere). Try that if you haven't.

Verified Aug 6. I never got an email acknowledging receipt of my primary. I tried logging into the secondary application with the suggested PIN; it din't work (as mentioned in my earlier post). I also tried selecting "forgot my PIN" and it says my AMCAS ID is not in the system...

 

[justdoit1234]

Verified Aug 6. I never got an email acknowledging receipt of my primary. I tried logging into the secondary application with the suggested PIN; it din't work (as mentioned in my earlier post). I also tried selecting "forgot my PIN" and it says my AMCAS ID is not in the system...

I'd wait like at least another week. August 6th wasn't too long ago.