2015-2016 Virginia Commonwealth University Application Thread

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What authority do you really have as a medical student though? I feel that whatever approach you take, it ultimately leads to "tell the attending physician and let him handle it"
 
xyphr said:
What authority do you really have as a medical student though? I feel that whatever approach you take, it ultimately leads to "tell the attending physician and let him handle it"
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With abuse it's hard. Odds are, if you even ask her, she'll probably be offended and flat out deny it. You tell the attending, he probably would have to look into it, but once again, without irrefutable proof, not much you can really do. You can't force the husband to stay away either. Basically, have to be as delicate with it as possible.

(I am a child of abuse and my mother a victim of domestic violence, my mom especially would flat out deny it whenever asked, for fear of repercussion. I was never questioned about it so I never really had the chance to address it. My sister would shout it from the rooftops.)
 
just called. they said u have to use new prompt if you didnt submit it. figures.

this is really stupid. hey guys i have a brilliant idea. lets make the secondary available, and then a few days in lets change it because we were unorganized, and then penalize the people who started and almost finished but did not submit yet.

VCU is way at the bottom of my pile now.
 
Am I the only one who doesn't want to apply here anymore? So unorganized, unprofessional and inconsiderate.
 
cactusinmyhead said:
Am I the only one who doesn't want to apply here anymore? So unorganized, unprofessional and inconsiderate.
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Me. I did the old essay, submitted on Monday. Take it, don't take it -- whatever. 2 years in a row, jeez you would think they would have double checked it given the problem last year.
UNLESS, this is a test. Anyone who complains does not get an II!
 
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You guys say that now but when the rejections roll in you want as many options as possible. It is a privilege to be considered at any medical school. Be patient with the process is my best advice - VCU will not be the only school that has faults.
 
I think some of you guys are overreacting a little. Sure this process isn't entirely fair, but so is life.
 
cherubb3 said:
I think some of you guys are overreacting a little. Sure this process isn't entirely fair, but so is life.
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True it isn't. But if medical schools are charging money for the application, plus the fact that they want students who are professional and "on top of their game", the medical school should reflect that.
 
I just don't know how they would overlook something like this 2 years in a row
 
Medschoolornah said:
just called. they said u have to use new prompt if you didnt submit it. figures.

this is really stupid. hey guys i have a brilliant idea. lets make the secondary available, and then a few days in lets change it because we were unorganized, and then penalize the people who started and almost finished but did not submit yet.

VCU is way at the bottom of my pile now.
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so if you submitted it before the prompt change, it should be fine?
 
I never received an email from this school confirming that they received my AMCAS application. Is that normal? Is there an e-mail address I can write to to inquire about that?
 
Ok I just found the link to the secondary application on their website, logged in, and was told I had been granted a supplemental application. Thanks, would've loved to know this last week.
 
Honestly wish more schools did ethics questions like this. Like writing this essay was so much more thought provoking and fascinating then trying to write another diversity prompt.

Also y'all need to chill a bit. Like damn they're not going to penalize you for doing the old question and submitting before they changed it. Mistakes happen, they're human too.

Anyway, submitted OOS, lets see how it goes
 
MD.Hopeful said:
Ok I just found the link to the secondary application on their website, logged in, and was told I had been granted a supplemental application. Thanks, would've loved to know this last week.
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Me too!! Thank you for posting this. I saw your comment and decided to check my status and surprise, surprise! I was also granted a supplemental and never notified lol. Maybe we'll get an email tomorrow (based on last year's thread)?
 
rachiie01 said:
Me too!! Thank you for posting this. I saw your comment and decided to check my status and surprise, surprise! I was also granted a supplemental and never notified lol. Maybe we'll get an email tomorrow (based on last year's thread)?
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No problem, glad I'm not the only one! I thought maybe my email address was wrong!
 
From VCU's secondary site under Announcements:

"07/09/2015
On July 1, 2015 we received 5000 reference letters which was immediately followed by the July 4th three day holiday. It will take up to three weeks to process letters. It is our goal to be back to the 14 day processing time by the middle of August."
 
If letter submission is electronic then once AMCAS receives our letters shouldn't they be almost instantly available to med schools? If it were old school snail mail then I'd understand the hassle. I'm curious about this for all schools in general. Anyone have any insights?
 
when it says "you may use any resources in your answer" is it okay to cite quotes from articles or journals about the topic?
 
dtom76 said:
From VCU's secondary site under Announcements:

"07/09/2015
On July 1, 2015 we received 5000 reference letters which was immediately followed by the July 4th three day holiday. It will take up to three weeks to process letters. It is our goal to be back to the 14 day processing time by the middle of August."
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Also, below that announcement:
"07/06/2015
Re: VCU Essay We apologize but for some reason IT has a difficult time changing essays from one year to another since last cycle, so you will see the same essay from last year (young girl with mom suffering from abd pain) if you received a supplemental prior to 7/8/2015. Each year we develop a new essay, IT will attempt to upload it on 7/7/2015. Please submit your supplemental application with this new essay which is also capped at 2000 characters. Thank you and I am again sorry for any inconvenience. If you have already submitted your supplemental or plan to submit the week of July 5th and have already written the old essay that is fine. Please email [email protected] with any questions. M. Whitehurst-Cook, M.D., Assoc Dean for Admissions VCU SOM"

Since they say "the week of July 5th" and July 5th was a Sunday, I assume that if we submit a response to the old prompt before July 11, we're fine?
 
mazarine said:
Also, below that announcement:
"07/06/2015
Re: VCU Essay We apologize but for some reason IT has a difficult time changing essays from one year to another since last cycle, so you will see the same essay from last year (young girl with mom suffering from abd pain) if you received a supplemental prior to 7/8/2015. Each year we develop a new essay, IT will attempt to upload it on 7/7/2015. Please submit your supplemental application with this new essay which is also capped at 2000 characters. Thank you and I am again sorry for any inconvenience. If you have already submitted your supplemental or plan to submit the week of July 5th and have already written the old essay that is fine. Please email [email protected] with any questions. M. Whitehurst-Cook, M.D., Assoc Dean for Admissions VCU SOM"

Since they say "the week of July 5th" and July 5th was a Sunday, I assume that if we submit a response to the old prompt before July 11, we're fine?
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That's interesting- if you shoot them an email let me know what they say!
 
rachiie01 said:
Me too!! Thank you for posting this. I saw your comment and decided to check my status and surprise, surprise! I was also granted a supplemental and never notified lol. Maybe we'll get an email tomorrow (based on last year's thread)?
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Same here! Says i was granted a supplement on 7/02.... Thanks for never notifying me VCU
 
If I applied here in high school for the BS/MD program and was granted an interview but ultimately rejected, should I say that I have applied to VCU SOM previously? Would it help me?
 
MD.Hopeful said:
Ok I just found the link to the secondary application on their website, logged in, and was told I had been granted a supplemental application. Thanks, would've loved to know this last week.
Click to expand...

rachiie01 said:
Me too!! Thank you for posting this. I saw your comment and decided to check my status and surprise, surprise! I was also granted a supplemental and never notified lol. Maybe we'll get an email tomorrow (based on last year's thread)?
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so when does yours say your supplement was sent on the portal? Mine said it was sent 7/2 but I never got the email? Really strange, I'm wondering if this is a common problem with other people? Or do you think we weren't supposed to get it at all?
 
noflag said:
so when does yours say your supplement was sent on the portal? Mine said it was sent 7/2 but I never got the email? Really strange, I'm wondering if this is a common problem with other people? Or do you think we weren't supposed to get it at all?
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Mine also says "granted 07/02/2015" with a deadline to submit of 8/31. My email and everything is correct, though...?
 
rachiie01 said:
Mine also says "granted 07/02/2015" with a deadline to submit of 8/31. My email and everything is correct, though...?
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Yeah same.. It worries me considering if I hadn't seen this thread I literally wouldn't have gotten the app. Crazy
 
guys im having trouble uploading my picture AND saving the secondary..... any ideas?
 
Does anyone's application status say they have not been granted a secondary?

I haven't even received an email confirming that they've received my primary. Nothing. I searched their website and logged in with my AAMC ID to find out I had a secondary on there, but I don't want to write it if they didn't mean for me to have it...?
 
rachiie01 said:
Does anyone's application status say they have not been granted a secondary?

I haven't even received an email confirming that they've received my primary. Nothing. I searched their website and logged in with my AAMC ID to find out I had a secondary on there, but I don't want to write it if they didn't mean for me to have it...?
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+1. Same situation
 
rachiie01 said:
Arghh so frustrating! And every time I try to call I end up getting an answering machine that says they're closed for 4th of July lol.
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Hahaha yikes. I'll try calling at some point too but if you get through let me know what they say!
 
rachiie01 said:
Arghh so frustrating! And every time I try to call I end up getting an answering machine that says they're closed for 4th of July lol.
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I called the main phone number and she transferred me to the main woman who had a voicemail saying she would be out (I think I called 7/3). Her voicemail said to call this number. (804) 827-1265. Try this number if you haven't already! The guy who answered was really nice!
 
ellocarter said:
I called the main phone number and she transferred me to the main woman who had a voicemail saying she would be out (I think I called 7/3). Her voicemail said to call this number. (804) 827-1265. Try this number if you haven't already! The guy who answered was really nice!
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Thank you!! I think they're closed on weekends , though. I called that number and got his voicemail, but his voice sounded so smooth and potentially helpful! haha.
 
rachiie01 said:
Thank you!! I think they're closed on weekends , though. I called that number and got his voicemail, but his voice sounded so smooth and potentially helpful! haha.
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I guess the phone call is a mission for Monday! But I would already have the app done by the time you called him so when he says "yes you're good," I could hit submit and still have an early app. Then report back here for the others! 🙂
 
OOS here... trying to answer the questions about campus for 3rd and 4th here does anyone have any input about Fairfax ie. safety, size, etc vs Richmond ?
 
MD2B25 said:
OOS here... trying to answer the questions about campus for 3rd and 4th here does anyone have any input about Fairfax ie. safety, size, etc vs Richmond ?
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As a guy who currently lives in Richmond and a native of Fairfax I can tell you that they are very different. Fairfax is very safe and affluent compared to Richmond and the patient population will likely reflect that. PM me if you want to know more.
 
I called and e-mailed about the old essay prompt (I submitted on the 5th...the day before the prompt change). The admissions dean and the lady who wrote the prompt (M. Whitehurst-Cook, M.D) e-mailed me back saying it was okay that I submitted under the old essay.

However, I think that only applies to people who submitted before the notification was posted.
 
Chlorini said:
I called and e-mailed about the old essay prompt (I submitted on the 5th...the day before the prompt change). The admissions dean and the lady who wrote the prompt (M. Whitehurst-Cook, M.D) e-mailed me back saying it was okay that I submitted under the old essay.

However, I think that only applies to people who submitted before the notification was posted.
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i think if you submitted last week ( the week of July 5th) you are fine. That is what it said in the secondary page before you log in.
 
Finally got marked complete, anyone else have all their LoR marked as science?
 
rachiie01 said:
Thank you!! I think they're closed on weekends , though. I called that number and got his voicemail, but his voice sounded so smooth and potentially helpful! haha.
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Just called. He said that if you can login to the secondary than you were granted one... Guess they decided to not email us? Frustrating
 
catchmoresun said:
perhaps it's in your spam folder??
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I triple checked to no avail. I'm not complaining, at least I got one. But I worry for people who don't have the information to check their portal because I'm assuming it wasn't just me who never received an email
 
noflag said:
I triple checked to no avail. I'm not complaining, at least I got one. But I worry for people who don't have the information to check their portal because I'm assuming it wasn't just me who never received an email
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Strategy to cut down on the number of apps to review?? ha ha ha
 
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So are they just never going to email me? They haven't confirmed that my primary was even received and now I'm approaching having their secondary for 2 weeks despite not knowing until a few days ago.
 
I never got any emails from VCU, but I was able to log into the portal. It says that my AMCAS application has been received, but there is no invitation for a supplemental application
 
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