2015-2016 Virginia Commonwealth University Application Thread

Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
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MD2025 said:
It's been a month since my complete AMCAS application was submitted. Still no secondary yet and I have an MCAT well above median, but below 90th % so I can't imagine not getting a secondary. Is this too long or has this been normal for most people?

Thanks in advance for any comments.
Click to expand...

I'm at close to two months.
 
MedMochi said:
To avoid anxiety in this cycle,I haven't been checking any of the portals because I expected the emails to be sent out.

I just got all of the status change email today and realized I was invited to interview, 3 weeks ago but because I didn't respond in time, they withdrew my application!! I'm hoping that I'm not the only one with this problem and they'll be lenient about it.
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1st time poster, but I wanted to let you know that you're not alone! The exact same thing happened to me earlier today. Instantly tried to log on to respond to the II after getting the e-mails from "3 weeks ago" but it was too late 🙁. Will be contacting the admissions office 1st thing in the morning. Hopefully they cut us some slack!
 
IS, I'm currently in a master program and just got a status update: HOLD FOR GRADES. I'm guessing it's another way of rejection considering their class would be full by the time I turn in the updated transcript.:eyebrow:
 
*phew*

Finally an update from VCU! With an II! Scheduled for the morning of Oct 22nd (also happens to be my birthday!).

This after a near heart attack - received three status update e-mails today, and one e-mail notifying me that if I do not schedule my interview soon my application would be withdrawn. Signed on to the portal...as was left staring at a message that my app had been withdrawn. Thankfully, after leaving a near panicked voicemail and e-mail explaining the situation, VCU got back to me almost right away and set everything straight.

So everybody else who appears to be stuck in limbo...have hope! They'll get you sorted out and where you need to be!
 
Porcn said:
It looks like they just released all the status emails that never went out previously. I just got my initial status change email and my II email. Hopefully that means they have fixed whatever software bug was causing problems.
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Hmm the recent slew of emails is renewing my anxiety over the fact that I haven't gotten a single one...at least so far the portal has been reliable, so there's that. Gah!!
 
ciestar said:
Id really like a status update of any kind from vcu at this point xD complete since end of July
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Well I figure if they havent read my app yet, that means that there is still a chance they might like what they see when they do get around to reading it.
 
LegendaryPunk said:
*phew*

Finally an update from VCU! With an II! Scheduled for the morning of Oct 22nd (also happens to be my birthday!).

This after a near heart attack - received three status update e-mails today, and one e-mail notifying me that if I do not schedule my interview soon my application would be withdrawn. Signed on to the portal...as was left staring at a message that my app had been withdrawn. Thankfully, after leaving a near panicked voicemail and e-mail explaining the situation, VCU got back to me almost right away and set everything straight.

So everybody else who appears to be stuck in limbo...have hope! They'll get you sorted out and where you need to be!
Click to expand...


when were you complete?
 
My supplemental deadline is in two days (10/8). Do my LORs need to be processed before this date, or will my application still be considered if I assign my LORs in AMCAS and submit the supplemental ASAP?
 
-UPDATE-

They realize that they have been having issues with their email notifications and have reactivated me back into the system! Looking forward to interviewing here 🙂

Lizzy M ~65-70

Got the original invite 9/17, Secondary Received 7/1 , Submitted secondary on 7/20
 
Just got a secondary (applied late July, 71 LizzyM, OOS, applying MD/PhD). How rigorous is their screen? Basically, since it's so late in the cycle do I have any shot at an II if I fill out the app?
 
scba90 said:
My supplemental deadline is in two days (10/8). Do my LORs need to be processed before this date, or will my application still be considered if I assign my LORs in AMCAS and submit the supplemental ASAP?
Click to expand...

I was under the impression the letters had to be processed before the deadline. When I called, they extended my deadline do give themselves time to process them.
 
xc_stallion92 said:
Just got a secondary (applied late July, 71 LizzyM, OOS, applying MD/PhD). How rigorous is their screen? Basically, since it's so late in the cycle do I have any shot at an II if I fill out the app?
Click to expand...

I would submit the secondary. They seem to be quite rigorous in primary screening, at least according to the stats from prior year.
 
Silly question but perhaps someone can answer. I was born and raised in northern VA. Family still lives there but I am not a current resident. Do you think my ties to the state will have any bearing over my consideration? There was no place in the app to list this, should I call and see?
 
piii said:
Silly question but perhaps someone can answer. I was born and raised in northern VA. Family still lives there but I am not a current resident. Do you think my ties to the state will have any bearing over my consideration? There was no place in the app to list this, should I call and see?
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also wondering this. wasn't born there but lived there for quite awhile during elementary, middle, & high school. i e-mailed them about it about a month ago but never got a response
 
piii said:
Silly question but perhaps someone can answer. I was born and raised in northern VA. Family still lives there but I am not a current resident. Do you think my ties to the state will have any bearing over my consideration? There was no place in the app to list this, should I call and see?
Click to expand...

I think it would be wise to bring this to the attention during interview. Call the Adcoms just because of this probably won't make significant difference. Just my 2 cent.
 
Jay_W said:
I would submit the secondary. They seem to be quite rigorous in primary screening, at least according to the stats from prior year.
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Any idea where those stats are? I'm in the same boat; I just got a secondary today and while this is a top choice for me, I'm OOS and pretty broke at this point in the cycle!
 
Finally complete!
Now I get to wait..... :yawn:

Also, the administration at VCU is super helpful. I can't imagine fielding dozens of calls/emails about the same thing from people with varying degrees of anger/frustration/confusion.
 
piii said:
Silly question but perhaps someone can answer. I was born and raised in northern VA. Family still lives there but I am not a current resident. Do you think my ties to the state will have any bearing over my consideration? There was no place in the app to list this, should I call and see?
Click to expand...
This could definitely help. Many schools want to produce physicians that will serve their region. Did you mention it at all in your secondaries? I don't remember the prompts from this school (still trying to recover from all of the secondaries I wrote), but for schools that I had ties to (moved around a bit growing up), I found a way to mention it in the essays if it was possible. Other than that, I don't know if there is a good way to do it. I've been told that updates are only for significant achievements, and there isn't really another way to communicate after everything is submitted. I definitely agree with Jay_W, if you get an interview, make sure to express your connection to the area very clearly.
 
Buck Winters said:
This could definitely help. Many schools want to produce physicians that will serve their region. Did you mention it at all in your secondaries? I don't remember the prompts from this school (still trying to recover from all of the secondaries I wrote), but for schools that I had ties to (moved around a bit growing up), I found a way to mention it in the essays if it was possible. Other than that, I don't know if there is a good way to do it. I've been told that updates are only for significant achievements, and there isn't really another way to communicate after everything is submitted. I definitely agree with Jay_W, if you get an interview, make sure to express your connection to the area very clearly.
Click to expand...
Okay thanks. Yeah the INOVA Fairfax clerkships is like a few miles from my family so it would be ideal! Maybe I'll call just to ask. Worst case they cant do anything, best case they add a note. Nowhere in the secondary was appropriate to mention it. My permanent address on AMCAS is my family home in VA, but it says I'm a resident of my current state.
 
njtrimed said:
Any idea where those stats are? I'm in the same boat; I just got a secondary today and while this is a top choice for me, I'm OOS and pretty broke at this point in the cycle!
Click to expand...

Should be 1/4 being selected for secondary application if I am correct. Do check the earlier posts in this thread. I would invest on the application fee at this moment, could be your best investment in your life!
 
Got another status update email today with no changes. Is this going to be a daily thing now?
 
just got the ever-so-helpful "the sub-committee is now reviewing your app. if they like you, we'll review you some more. then we'll keep reviewing you. finally, we'll finish reviewing you, but that probably won't be until next year so hang tight! xoxo" status update. i'm glad my app is making some progress though!
 
II 10/6 scheduled for interview in October. Dets:
  • IS, trad undergrad IS not VCU
  • 2ndary rec'd 9/22 after months of waiting
  • 2ndary submitted 9/23 & my application went to under review within a week (no sub-committee)
  • status went to "MAY be interested" around 10/4
  • above the norm ECs (interships/clerkships at med schools, shadowing/patient care in IM practice, UG leadership)
  • gpa above 3.9, sgpa near 4.0, LizzyM low 70s with new MCAT.
Conclusion -- there is hope. The only sure "no" is to not complete the 2ndary.
 
mayo33 said:
just got the ever-so-helpful "the sub-committee is now reviewing your app. if they like you, we'll review you some more. then we'll keep reviewing you. finally, we'll finish reviewing you, but that probably won't be until next year so hang tight! xoxo" status update. i'm glad my app is making some progress though!
Click to expand...

"xoxo" [emoji1]
 
With status updates are there suppose to be emails that notify the changes?
 
pharmagesic said:
With status updates are there suppose to be emails that notify the changes?
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Whenever your status changes, you're "supposed" to receive an automated email saying that your status has changed. As many other applicants have noted, the IT Department and Admissions Website have been much less than efficient/effective with these emails this year.

I'd suggest that you check each applicant school's portal at least once a week to see if anything's changed.
 
LoveMed2015 said:
II 10/6 scheduled for interview in October. Dets:
  • IS, trad undergrad IS not VCU
  • 2ndary rec'd 9/22 after months of waiting
  • 2ndary submitted 9/23 & my application went to under review within a week (no sub-committee)
  • status went to "MAY be interested" around 10/4
  • above the norm ECs (interships/clerkships at med schools, shadowing/patient care in IM practice, UG leadership)
  • gpa above 3.9, sgpa near 4.0, LizzyM low 70s with new MCAT.
Conclusion -- there is hope. The only sure "no" is to not complete the 2ndary.
Click to expand...
Wow, that turnaround from submission to under review is insane. Congrats on the II!
 
So weirdest thing just happened.. After getting the status change of my app under review by the sub-committee, I just got another status change essentially reverting back to what I was before ("your app is complete, the sub-committee will now do a review, blahblah"). The status changes were 5 hours apart... Assuming it's a glitch but idk.
 
mayo33 said:
So weirdest thing just happened.. After getting the status change of my app under review by the sub-committee, I just got another status change essentially reverting back to what I was before ("your app is complete, the sub-committee will now do a review, blahblah"). The status changes were 5 hours apart... Assuming it's a glitch but idk.
Click to expand...

It's happened to a lot of us, it means you're approved to go to full file review supposedly
 
OOS. Submitted primary 8/19. All recs are in. MCAT release 9/22. Still under review!!! Assuming this means they haven't got to my app yet? Like, it's october... I know I applied late, but now feel like I got no chance
 
So amidst all of this IT confusion, is it safe to say that whatever information is listed in the portal is completely accurate?
 
Thpinky said:
OOS. Submitted primary 8/19. All recs are in. MCAT release 9/22. Still under review!!! Assuming this means they haven't got to my app yet? Like, it's october... I know I applied late, but now feel like I got no chance
Click to expand...

If you read over the past page or so, there are people who were verified late July and just got their secondary. I was verified mid-August and am waiting on mine as well. They're overloaded at all stages of their review process, so it's still worth completing the secondary whenever you/we get it!

Edit: oh, you only *submitted* mid-August. You haven't been waiting long at all haha.
 
mcatjelly said:
If you read over the past page or so, there are people who were verified late July and just got their secondary.
Click to expand...

There are still peeps from late- July who are waiting?!?! I am shocked because AMCAS verified my app on 27 July and I received my secondary on the 5th of August [LizzyM 66-67]

Ready for Review on 9 August 2015

EDIT: Oh wow, I meant to say *waiting for secondaries*
 
Last edited by a moderator:
awetmop said:
There are still peeps from late- July who are waiting?!?! I am shocked because AMCAS verified my app on 27 July and I received my secondary on the 5th of August [LizzyM 66-67]

Ready for Review on 9 August 2015
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'peeps' are still waiting from early-July... (hint: me)

EDIT: misread, I'm waiting for review not the secondary, but still :sour:
 
hopeful418 said:
'peeps' are still waiting from early-July... (hint: me)

EDIT: misread, I'm waiting for review not the secondary, but still :sour:
Click to expand...

The wait is truly driving me crazy!!! I called a few weeks ago and they told me that the subcommittee will reach me between mid/late-October to election day 🙁

VCU - Why U have so much variance!!!! :rage:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
awetmop said:
The wait is truly driving me crazy!!! I called a few weeks ago and they told me that the subcommittee will reach me between mid/late-October to election day 🙁

VCU - Why U have so much variance!!!! :rage:
Click to expand...

I feel ya.

Curious to see how many withdrawals they will experience on October 15... can't promise that I'll be sticking around if I get good news. Would love to learn more about and/or visit VCU if given an opportunity, but man is there a bad taste in my mouth right now.
 
hopeful418 said:
I feel ya.

Curious to see how many withdrawals they will experience on October 15... can't promise that I'll be sticking around if I get good news. Would love to learn more about and/or visit VCU if given an opportunity, but man is there a bad taste in my mouth right now.
Click to expand...

Then I will hope that you reach your dream schools on the 15th!!
 
awetmop said:
The wait is truly driving me crazy!!! I called a few weeks ago and they told me that the subcommittee will reach me between mid/late-October to election day 🙁

VCU - Why U have so much variance!!!! :rage:
Click to expand...
Are you waiting for secondary or interview? If you're waiting for secondary, when were you ready for review?
 
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