2015-2016 Virginia Commonwealth University Application Thread

BU Medical Sciences
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I got switched from the fourth status to getting an interview over the weekend. I got the option of an interview in January or February and I scheduled one for 2/1. Will scheduling the interview further out hurt acceptance chances? I figured that interview evaluation wasn't on a rolling basis but I've gotten more anxious the more I've thought about it
 
"Your complete application has been considered carefully by the Admissions Committee, and we regret that we are unable to offer you a position in the class beginning in August 2016. The Committee understands the disappointing nature of their decision and does NOT offer reasons for this action but does suggest that you consult with your pre-med advisor to discuss the possibility for improvement of your application.

We wish you the very best of success with your future plans."

Bummer. Good luck all!

Edit: OOS, LizzyM 68.
 
coltsorbroncos said:
I got switched from the fourth status to getting an interview over the weekend. I got the option of an interview in January or February and I scheduled one for 2/1. Will scheduling the interview further out hurt acceptance chances? I figured that interview evaluation wasn't on a rolling basis but I've gotten more anxious the more I've thought about it
Click to expand...
Welp, I'm screwed, then. I've been complete for so long that I did the menstrual cramps essay instead of the new one, had my status change back and forth from sub-committee and complete, etc...but haven't heard back. They have to have reviewed me already, and if they're already into February interview dates...well, anyway I will be on a different continent by then. Tough break. I really thought I had a shot to make it back to my old home state, too!
 
VegasPreMed said:
"Your complete application has been considered carefully by the Admissions Committee, and we regret that we are unable to offer you a position in the class beginning in August 2016. The Committee understands the disappointing nature of their decision and does NOT offer reasons for this action but does suggest that you consult with your pre-med advisor to discuss the possibility for improvement of your application.

We wish you the very best of success with your future plans."

Bummer. Good luck all!

Edit: OOS, LizzyM 68.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry to hear this. Please tell us when you were complete.
 
Why are they ignoring a bunch of people who were complete around 7/23? If you don't want us reject us already.
 
ellocarter said:
Your post makes me hurt...and sad. I'm sorry you're having to wait so long my friend. Did you call them?
Click to expand...
What's to call about? They're reviewing my file, and will let me know their decision when they make one :shrug: As long as it has seemed from my end, it is still quite early in the cycle. I don't see much point in calling when their portal is perfectly clear in its communications, though of course that won't stop me from whining about it online! :laugh:
 
kubb_champ said:
VCU does a "partial" rolling admissions. When your application is reviewed, you get a specific priority score. This score determines the relative months you will be interviewed (the lower the priority score, the latter in the season). VCU extends offers mid Oct, Dec, Feb, and March (I believe). So while it is an advantage to interview early, you should see the later interview as an opportunity. How is it an opportunity? You can increase your GPA, shadow, research, publish, teach, travel in the next few months and provide some awesome updates at your interview. For now, take comfort in the fact that you have an interview and your cycle still has a chance to be fruitful even in Feb.
Click to expand...

Wait, are you saying that people are offered dates based on their priority score (i.e. if they review my application today, and give me a low priority score, my interview will be scheduled later than that of someone else reviewed today who is given a higher priority score?)
 
Almighty Saguaro said:
Wait, are you saying that people are offered dates based on their priority score (i.e. if they review my application today, and give me a low priority score, my interview will be scheduled later than that of someone else reviewed today who is given a higher priority score?)
Click to expand...
That's what they're saying...whether it's true and where they got the information from, I couldn't tell you. It does give me some hope, however, that the Feb interviews being given out don't mean they've already filled most of their interview dates for the season!
 
Complete on 7/20. Was previously at "lowest" status. October II today! They were offering me another time slot in about 2 weeks that I decided to decline for the oct position…
Still confused about ranking @kubb_champ
If I had the "lowest" further status (indicating a lower priority score), why was I offered an interview slot within 2 weeks time (which would indicate a higher priority score)?
 
Just got the 2nd status update! I 'may' be offered an interview.

Complete 7/23. Went from 'we will review', to 'we are reviewing', right back to 'we will review'. Stuck at that one for about 2 weeks.

I'm just happy my application went somewhere (finally)!
 
stayingpositive2014 said:
Complete on 7/20. Was previously at "lowest" status. October II today! They were offering me another time slot in about 2 weeks that I decided to decline for the oct position…
Still confused about ranking @kubb_champ
If I had the "lowest" further status (indicating a lower priority score), why was I offered an interview slot within 2 weeks time (which would indicate a higher priority score)?
Click to expand...
Yeah, right now it seems as if:
Submission date is not relevant to review date
Status tier is not strongly tied to II invites
Status tier is not tied to II priority date.

WHYYYYYY YOU SO CONFUSING FOR NO REASON?!?!?!?

See, this is why I generally try to just stay laissez-faire and not try to figure out the adcoms' behind-the-scenes or end-game. Too stressful for zero benefit. I can't affect it, so why worry?

This thread, tho, it tempted me in!!!
 
MD.Hopeful said:
Just got the 2nd status update! I 'may' be offered an interview.

Complete 7/23. Went from 'we will review', to 'we are reviewing', right back to 'we will review'. Stuck at that one for about 2 weeks.

I'm just happy my application went somewhere (finally)!
Click to expand...
Jelly
 
Joining the "may" be able to interview you pile. Complete 7/23.

It's something!
 
MD.Hopeful said:
Just got the 2nd status update! I 'may' be offered an interview.

Complete 7/23. Went from 'we will review', to 'we are reviewing', right back to 'we will review'. Stuck at that one for about 2 weeks.

I'm just happy my application went somewhere (finally)!
Click to expand...
hey so when ur status went back from will be to review and back did u get an email or just keep checking the portal?
 
stayingpositive2014 said:
Complete on 7/20. Was previously at "lowest" status. October II today! They were offering me another time slot in about 2 weeks that I decided to decline for the oct position…
Still confused about ranking @kubb_champ
If I had the "lowest" further status (indicating a lower priority score), why was I offered an interview slot within 2 weeks time (which would indicate a higher priority score)?
Click to expand...
I think that when they offer the interview is important, like @kubb_champ said. You got an interview in October and I got one 4 months later because you are a better candidate than I am
 
I
kubb_champ said:
VCU does a "partial" rolling admissions. When your application is reviewed, you get a specific priority score. This score determines the relative months you will be interviewed (the lower the priority score, the latter in the season). VCU extends offers mid Oct, Dec, Feb, and March (I believe). So while it is an advantage to interview early, you should see the later interview as an opportunity. How is it an opportunity? You can increase your GPA, shadow, research, publish, teach, travel in the next few months and provide some awesome updates at your interview. For now, take comfort in the fact that you have an interview and your cycle still has a chance to be fruitful even in Feb.
Click to expand...
I was given January dates to interview but I decided to hold off till February, will the people in my priority section that interview in January have an advantage?
 
kubb_champ said:
VCU does a "partial" rolling admissions. When your application is reviewed, you get a specific priority score. This score determines the relative months you will be interviewed (the lower the priority score, the latter in the season). VCU extends offers mid Oct, Dec, Feb, and March (I believe). So while it is an advantage to interview early, you should see the later interview as an opportunity. How is it an opportunity? You can increase your GPA, shadow, research, publish, teach, travel in the next few months and provide some awesome updates at your interview. For now, take comfort in the fact that you have an interview and your cycle still has a chance to be fruitful even in Feb.
Click to expand...
Does selecting a later interview date in one's priority section put them at a disadvantage?
 
mehc012 said:
Yeah, right now it seems as if:
Submission date is not relevant to review date
Status tier is not strongly tied to II invites
Status tier is not tied to II priority date.

WHYYYYYY YOU SO CONFUSING FOR NO REASON?!?!?!?

See, this is why I generally try to just stay laissez-faire and not try to figure out the adcoms' behind-the-scenes or end-game. Too stressful for zero benefit. I can't affect it, so why worry?

This thread, tho, it tempted me in!!!
Click to expand...
You're right. I give up. Stressing won't change a thing!
 
maybedeadcat said:
Thanks for your kind words and advice. I called a few weeks ago and they made it sound like I would get a secondary soon, so maybe I should email or call again. I think it would be best for my mental health to just stay away from this thread for now!
Click to expand...

Caffein3 said:
Lol i still haven't received a secondary..its been 1.5 months! no rejection either. I've emailed and called and they say I'm still being reviewed. Anyone else experience this or am I just some strange anomaly?? haha
Click to expand...

Same boat as you two: primary submitted 7/20, verified 8/13. I'm IS with a LizzyM of 68 so I don't think I'd be screened out. Making me super nervous because this school is most on target for me!
 
coltsorbroncos said:
Does selecting a later interview date in one's priority section put them at a disadvantage?
Click to expand...


From my understanding, it should not depending on how late it is. At the end of the day, all applicants VCU deems worthy will be interviewed before the mid March offers go out. I don't think a two week difference will be detrimental.
 
^Ughhhh come on guys. My application only went into the review process 8/25, yall are making me feel screwed from the get go... Wish I submitted earlier.
 
stayingpositive2014 said:
Complete on 7/20. Was previously at "lowest" status. October II today! They were offering me another time slot in about 2 weeks that I decided to decline for the oct position…
Still confused about ranking @kubb_champ
If I had the "lowest" further status (indicating a lower priority score), why was I offered an interview slot within 2 weeks time (which would indicate a higher priority score)?
Click to expand...

I just described the general trend as I understand it. You getting the "lowest" status and getting an II is already rare on SDN. You having the "lowest" status with an II for an October date is also rare. My hypothesis is is that there is a matching system between priority scores and interview slots as they become available (sorta like the match system for residency and why VCU says they "may not have interview slots for applicants at your priority score"). As interview slots open, they are offered to people with certain priority scores (probably the best priority score of those who have been reviewed). Again, i'm just describing the general trend and we all know the process is complex and fluid.
 
mehc012 said:
That's what they're saying...whether it's true and where they got the information from, I couldn't tell you. It does give me some hope, however, that the Feb interviews being given out don't mean they've already filled most of their interview dates for the season!
Click to expand...

Interview dates are given based on priority score and IS/OOS status

mehc012 said:
Yeah, right now it seems as if:
Submission date is not relevant to review date
Status tier is not strongly tied to II invites
Status tier is not tied to II priority date.

WHYYYYYY YOU SO CONFUSING FOR NO REASON?!?!?!?

See, this is why I generally try to just stay laissez-faire and not try to figure out the adcoms' behind-the-scenes or end-game. Too stressful for zero benefit. I can't affect it, so why worry?

This thread, tho, it tempted me in!!!
Click to expand...

Submission date is not relevant to review date - It is but IS and pipeline programs are reviewed first and will jump in front of other applications
Status tier is not strongly tied to II invites - Generally is, but again, IS and pipeline/guaranteed people come first
Status tier is not tied to II priority date - It is. Again IS and pipeline/guaranteed people are interviewed earlier. Also, I noticed that people are posting status tier here in the wrong order. Subcommittee is lower than further.

Might be exceptions but that is how it generally is.
 
SwedishMD2B said:
Interview dates are given based on priority score and IS/OOS status



Submission date is not relevant to review date - It is but IS and pipeline programs are reviewed first and will jump in front of other applications
Status tier is not strongly tied to II invites - Generally is, but again, IS and pipeline/guaranteed people come first
Status tier is not tied to II priority date - It is. Again IS and pipeline/guaranteed people are interviewed earlier. Also, I noticed that people are posting status tier here in the wrong order. Subcommittee is lower than further.

Might be exceptions but that is how it generally is.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but did you get the info regarding the IS review priority from the admissions office or their website? I just want to know where this info is coming from because when I called and asked them if IS gets review priority, they told me the answer is absolutely not. Now maybe they lied to me, or maybe the person I spoke with didn't know, but I'd like to know how reliable your info is (as far as can be determined).
 
So the "lowest" status the status that says "The committee's file review indicates that they are interested in your candidacy. However, due to the increase in the applicant pool this year, it is clear we MAY be unable to interview all the candidates at your priority score. If we do find that we are unable to grant an interview, you will be notified by e-mail in March."?

Is it really all that rare to receive an interview with that status?
 
SwedishMD2B said:
Interview dates are given based on priority score and IS/OOS status



Submission date is not relevant to review date - It is but IS and pipeline programs are reviewed first and will jump in front of other applications
Status tier is not strongly tied to II invites - Generally is, but again, IS and pipeline/guaranteed people come first
Status tier is not tied to II priority date - It is. Again IS and pipeline/guaranteed people are interviewed earlier. Also, I noticed that people are posting status tier here in the wrong order. Subcommittee is lower than further.

Might be exceptions but that is how it generally is.
Click to expand...
I'm just saying that there are enough exceptions in this thread alone that it's not worth putting much, if any, stake on any of this.
Unless they are literally reviewing every single IS candidate above every single OOS candidate, and none of the people with any status beyond subcommittee in this thread are OOS, the first point seems unlikely to be a hard and fast rule.
There have already been many examples of 'low' status tiers getting IIs.
Unless they drastically change their ranking system between the tiers and the IIs, I don't see how someone with a 4th tier status would get an October II.

Again, I don't really mind one way or the other. My real point here is that sitting here spinning our wheels trying to puzzle out the exact methodology used by the adcoms is a waste of mental effort and just makes things more stressful. Sure, there are trends, but we can already see that they are not black and white lines - there are plenty of exceptions. The only real effect of trying to define the process so discretely is increased stress.

That's not to say that I don't see the appeal...after all, I've gotten just as caught up in everything in the last page or so! It feels productive puzzling these things out, which temporarily alleviates some of the anxiety. I was just calling myself out on getting too invested in the fairly pointless guessing games; I'm starting to psych myself out!!
 
drwoofs said:
So the "lowest" status the status that says "The committee's file review indicates that they are interested in your candidacy. However, due to the increase in the applicant pool this year, it is clear we MAY be unable to interview all the candidates at your priority score. If we do find that we are unable to grant an interview, you will be notified by e-mail in March."?

Is it really all that rare to receive an interview with that status?
Click to expand...

Oh lord. You got the MAY status, which is the second highest status....there are two that are supposedly lower ranked than yours. It is NOT rare for people with your status to get II. I'm so done.
 
kubb_champ said:
Oh lord. You got the MAY status, which is the second highest status....there are two that are supposedly lower ranked than yours. It is NOT rare for people with your status to get II. I'm so done.
Click to expand...

Just asking sheesh! I thought I read the MAY status was the lowest somewhere on here. Thanks for the answer though.
 
How long did it take you guys to go from "will be reviewd" to either "being reviewed" or one of the 4 statuses?
 
Still haven't received a secondary (I don't believe at least...the portal just says they don't give everyone secondarys). I submitted primary on 8/18, do they need LORs before they send the secondary? Or do they just take this long?
 
catie_jane said:
Still haven't received a secondary (I don't believe at least...the portal just says they don't give everyone secondarys). I submitted primary on 8/18, do they need LORs before they send the secondary? Or do they just take this long?
Click to expand...
My AMCAS was submitted 8/6 and my secondary was granted via portal 8/17.
So it can take some time for them to review the primary and decide whether to give you a secondary or not. Your wait may be a little longer since you submitted a little later...not sure.

Also, in earlier posts in this thread, they said approximately 2800 secondaries were given for about 9000 applicants... So there's a very real chance of not getting a secondary as they screen significantly pre-secondary invite; based on what criteria? Your guess would be as good as mine.

Sent from my C5306 using Tapatalk
 
Almighty Saguaro said:
My AMCAS was submitted 8/6 and my secondary was granted via portal 8/17.
So it can take some time for them to review the primary and decide whether to give you a secondary or not. Your wait may be a little longer since you submitted a little later...not sure.

Also, in earlier posts in this thread, they said approximately 2800 secondaries were given for about 9000 applicants... So there's a very real chance of not getting a secondary as they screen significantly pre-secondary invite; based on what criteria? Your guess would be as good as mine.

Sent from my C5306 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Yeah, I knew they screened just wasn't sure if they needed my LOR to review my application. Committee letter wont be uploaded until early next week :bang:

I guess I will wait a little while longer and see what happens
 
catie_jane said:
Yeah, I knew they screened just wasn't sure if they needed my LOR to review my application. Committee letter wont be uploaded until early next week :bang:

I guess I will wait a little while longer and see what happens
Click to expand...
I suppose for your peace of mind, if nothing else, you could call/email and ask if the LOR is a requirement. But as you've mentioned, the answer won't change the required course of action, or rather, inaction.

Hopefully you have the essay ready to go for if and when you do get the secondary. Thankfully it's not a tedious one so it shouldn't be too much of a loss if you end up not needing it.

Sent from my C5306 using Tapatalk
 
catie_jane said:
Yeah, I knew they screened just wasn't sure if they needed my LOR to review my application. Committee letter wont be uploaded until early next week :bang:

I guess I will wait a little while longer and see what happens
Click to expand...
Actually, on reviewing the instruction that came with the secondary, it seems that the LORs are not required prior to secondary invitation:

"There is a 60 day deadline for completion of the online supplemental application."
"Letters of recommendation must be submitted by the file completion deadline that appears on the file status screen."
You are responsible for checking to be certain that your supplemental materials and letters of recommendation have been received by checking your "File Status" on this website."

Additionally, the website says, "Please remember that this electronic application is NOT active until we have requested that you complete the supplemental. Therefore, DO NOT send any additional materials until after you receive that request. This includes letters of recommendation, transcripts and other additional materials for the file."
 
Almighty Saguaro said:
I suppose for your peace of mind, if nothing else, you could call/email and ask if the LOR is a requirement. But as you've mentioned, the answer won't change the required course of action, or rather, inaction.

Hopefully you have the essay ready to go for if and when you do get the secondary. Thankfully it's not a tedious one so it shouldn't be too much of a loss if you end up not needing it.

Sent from my C5306 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Yeah, I prewrote a bunch of my secondaries and this was one of them. Luckily this was one of the quickest ones to do though so no harm done if I don't end up with one haha

Edit: for you're above post... that is good to know. At least I have done everything that I can do on my part then
 
MD.Hopeful said:
Just got an interview by phone! Status is still 'may' on the portal though.

Doesnt matter, I'm thrilled!
Click to expand...

Congrats! I wonder why some people got personal phone II while some don't even get any notifications...
 
MD.Hopeful said:
Just got an interview by phone! Status is still 'may' on the portal though.

Doesnt matter, I'm thrilled!
Click to expand...
Congrats. I just got the standard email, so I'm feeling left out of the Personal touch phone method. You must be special!!
 
Rainbow Zebra said:
Congrats. I just got the standard email, so I'm feeling left out of the Personal touch phone method. You must be special!!
Click to expand...
mackkdad said:
Congrats! I wonder why some people got personal phone II while some don't even get any notifications...
Click to expand...

I applied for the fmSTAT dual program, so the interview day is a bit different, requires phone confirmation!
 
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