2015-2016 Virginia Tech Carilion Application Thread

[Ismet]

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Space reserved for prompt.

Please PM the essays or lack thereof to me when the secondary is available and I will update this.

Good luck to everyone applying!

 

[FrancisActovich]

First! Good Luck, everybody!!

 

[Hokiehi]

Just got an email saying they'd received my AMCAS. Anyone know how long it takes for them to send a secondary after this? Good luck everyone!

 

[Affiche]

Received email that my primaries are in and a decision to send a secondary "will be made shortly"!

 

[Affiche]

Holy small class size!

 

[arabella_fig]

+1 to the email! Looks like secondaries started going out between 7/12 and 7/14 (looking at threads from last few years), so it looks as though we have a little time to wait! I think they screen pretty heavily, though.

 

[lcm2020]

Got the email this morning as well

 

[arabella_fig]

Just got the secondary!

 

[Clockwork Biology]

Secondary this morning as well. Anyone know what their requirements for prescreen were?

 

[lcm2020]

+1. What a strange secondary email, though, starting out with "Congratulations." 😛

Agreed! lol

 

[arabella_fig]

I think 27 MCAT minimum? But they review holistically, so I would imagine that it's somewhat flexible: "Reviews of each application will be made before making a decision about whether or not to invite a secondary application. Only the most academically qualified applicants who present records indicating that they would benefit most..."

Prompt:
A. VTC's curriculum fosters a culture of compassion through its community service learning initiatives. Through their inter-professional learning group projects (IPL), students demonstrate leadership and innovation while making a positive difference in the community. Describe an event or a time when your personal contribution was instrumental to the success of a team or made a positive impact on someone else's life.

-AND-

B. VTC is committed to strengthening the diversity of its community. Through interactions with a heterogeneous population, people broaden their knowledge about other cultures and ultimately develop the ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with others. Tell us about how your life experience has broadened your perspective of the world and relate how you would add to the diversity of your class, if admitted to VTC.

500-600 words each

 

[IPICU]

Wait does that mean minimum of 500 words for each?

 

[dktr_butt]

I also received the secondary email this morning! Woo

 

[dktr_butt]

Wait does that mean minimum of 500 words for each?

I interpreted it as at maximum 500-600 words.

 

[dktr_butt]

Secondary this morning as well. Anyone know what their requirements for prescreen were?

From what I've read, they are selective even with offering the secondary. Either way, congrats to us!

 

[VegasPreMed]

Secondary received!

 

[FrancisActovich]

"Congratulations", you guys, haha! Keeping my fingers crossed for a secondary! 🙂

 

[MolonLabe16]

Just got this one too! 🙂

 

[mazarine]

Got this secondary early this morning. The "congratulations" is nice to see even though it's just a secondary 😛

 

[sharkbyte]

Got the secondary today too! Feel pretty pumped since their website makes it look like they do a fairly heavy screen.

Apologies for being neurotic, but is it okay if one of my essays is ~380 words? I really can't write any more about that topic...

 

[medic86]

Got the secondary today too! Feel pretty pumped since their website makes it look like they do a fairly heavy screen.

Apologies for being neurotic, but is it okay if one of my essays is ~380 words? I really can't write any more about that topic...

Eh. You're fine, man.

If you completely said what you wanted to say, no ones going to be like "HE ONLY USED 380 WORDS OMG".

 

[sharkbyte]

Eh. You're fine, man.

If you completely said what you wanted to say, no ones going to be like "HE ONLY USED 380 WORDS OMG".

I'd really love to see some school I wasn't too interested in e-mail me back saying something really hilarious like "We are sorry to inform you that you have been rejected from [insert school name here]. Your essay was only 380 words when we specified 400. Can't you read, bro?"

 

[winterwind_23]

Got the secondary today too! Feel pretty pumped since their website makes it look like they do a fairly heavy screen.

Apologies for being neurotic, but is it okay if one of my essays is ~380 words? I really can't write any more about that topic...

500 words for a diversity essay, when most schools give 1,000 characters for similar prompts. Seems a bit excessive to me!

 

[ellocarter]

500 words for a diversity essay, when most schools give 1,000 characters for similar prompts. Seems a bit excessive to me!

I think they know some people have a lot to say and need a little wiggle room to say it. I think they're okay with concise writing and also know not every one needs that many words.

 

[khendzel]

omg I'm about to submit this secondary. #1 school on my list. heavy breathing. good luck to everyone

 

[sandstorm223]

Hope you all did your research (literally)! Looks like the majority of last years class had excellent research credentials.

 

[XxThaDoggxX]

Hope you all did your research (literally)! Looks like the majority of last years class had excellent research credentials.

My alma mater, but one of the reasons as to why I am not applying here for med school!

 

[khendzel]

Hope you all did your research (literally)! Looks like the majority of last years class had excellent research credentials.

Reason why I'm so excited about applying to this school 🙂
3 Semesters, 2 full time summers, 1 publication (1 pending), 2 formal presentations- I hope this is enough. It sure felt like a lot but then again I see other people doing some crazy stuff. I just love the idea of the small classes and research being incorporated into the curriculum so heavily. ahh. good luck

 

[purplecricket]

Got it on Thursday! Very surprised actually.... >.>

 

[meetsub]

what is the screen for secondary like here. Just wondering, submitted over the weekend.

 

[winterwind_23]

For the optional essay, I am planning on updating with two community service activities that I am participating in over the summer. Should I be updating with contacts, hours, and a short description? Or should I write a "most meaningful" type of essay for each of these activities? Should I aim to cover 500-600 words, or will a few short sentences with contacts for each activity suffice? How have other people approached this essay?

 

[meetsub]

For the optional essay, I am planning on updating with two community service activities that I am participating in over the summer. Should I be updating with contacts, hours, and a short description? Or should I write a "most meaningful" type of essay for each of these activities? Should I aim to cover 500-600 words, or will a few short sentences with contacts for each activity suffice? How have other people approached this essay?

Updates are usually short and to the point to let them know what you did, as in the main things and perhaps what it added to your experience. I think the main essays are for introspection and the likes.

 

[winterwind_23]

Updates are usually short and to the point to let them know what you did, as in the main things and perhaps what it added to your experience. I think the main essays are for introspection and the likes.

Thanks for the helpful response! Do you think I should explicitly list out contacts and hours? Or is saying, "Twice a week, I participated in..." Good enough?

 

[meetsub]

Thanks for the helpful response! Do you think I should explicitly list out contacts and hours? Or is saying, "Twice a week, I participated in..." Good enough?

I did not list contacts, but I don't see why it could hurt.

 

[winterwind_23]

500 words for a diversity essay, when most schools give 1,000 characters for similar prompts. Seems a bit excessive to me!

I take back my words! Both of my essays ended up being just under 600 words...I hope I didn't write words just for the sake of filling up the maximum words allowed. 🙁 I promise myself to keep my optional essay extremely concise!

 

[Med_2016]

+1. What a strange secondary email, though, starting out with "Congratulations." 😛

^^ Exactly! I had to give myself a minute to calm down before I realized it was just for the Secondary.

 

[beeboops]

How is everyone approaching the first essay question? I don't have a very good story in which my personal contributions were integral to a team's success, but I have a pretty great story in which I made a positive impact on someone's life. It seems to me like they would prefer that you write about a team success.

 

[Med_2016]

How is everyone approaching the first essay question? I don't have a very good story in which my personal contributions were integral to a team's success, but I have a pretty great story in which I made a positive impact on someone's life. It seems to me like they would prefer that you write about a team success.

So I chose to answer both parts of the question, although I am not sure how that will be received. I talked about a time I made an impact on someone's life through a volunteer experience and then I briefly brought up the fact that I am a pretty integral part of my weekly trivia night team. I tried to make the first part the bigger aspect of the essay, because I wasn't really sure if "I know a lot of weird facts, which makes my win trivia night at the pub" would be a strong response.

 

[rekrul]

I submitted my AMCAS at least 1 week ago but never received a confirmation email or a secondary. Anyone else in the same boat?

 

[organesha]

Secondary received 7/9 and submitted 7/20. Are there any current students that can comment on the school in general? Seems like a unique and interesting curriculum.

 

[Med_2016]

I submitted my AMCAS at least 1 week ago but never received a confirmation email or a secondary. Anyone else in the same boat?

I know that they screen somewhat. My first email was to confirm my AMCAS and then inform me that I might get a secondary at some point, which I did. This all happened over the course of a week or so. Keep in mind, I submitted the first possible day, so I beat the wave of AMCAS apps. You probably did not if you submitted a week ago, so your timeline will likely be longer than mine was.
My point is you will get at least a confirmation email eventually, so don't panic.

 

[IPICU]

I can't decide if it's even worth applying to this school since I don't have research experience.

 

[beeboops]

I can't decide if it's even worth applying to this school since I don't have research experience.

It may not be if you don't have any research experience, especially with such a small class size.

 

[IPICU]

Oooo but i just realized one of the essays for Tech allows me to basically use an essay I wrote for somewhere else… so if I'm only having to write one essay from scratch, and I'm in state, which already decreases the applicant pool I'm in, maybe it's worth the $50

 

[beeboops]

Oooo but i just realized one of the essays for Tech allows me to basically use an essay I wrote for somewhere else… so if I'm only having to write one essay from scratch, and I'm in state, which already decreases the applicant pool I'm in, maybe it's worth the $50

Heh, I'm IS too, my research experiences aren't that great, and I have the FAP, so it was totally worth the $15 for me. Apply if you'd like!

 

[2018MDtobe]

Secondary received 7/9 and submitted 7/20. Are there any current students that can comment on the school in general? Seems like a unique and interesting curriculum.

Hi organesha, current M2 here, what would you like to know about the school? As far as the small class size, it offers way more opportunities to interact with the faculty. Also, we are a very tight-knit class socially, with minimal competition. As far as the research, it is challenging but very good for us. Research is a big plus on residency applications, and we are held to a high standard of publishing/producing something concrete we can put on an app later on.

Did this help? Let me know what you have questions about specifically.

 

[khendzel]

Hi organesha, current M2 here, what would you like to know about the school? As far as the small class size, it offers way more opportunities to interact with the faculty. Also, we are a very tight-knit class socially, with minimal competition. As far as the research, it is challenging but very good for us. Research is a big plus on residency applications, and we are held to a high standard of publishing/producing something concrete we can put on an app later on.

Did this help? Let me know what you have questions about specifically.

Assuming you chose to go here over other acceptances, why? And what experiences have you had that you would tell to your former self in making that decision?

 

[2018MDtobe]

I was accepted into multiple MD schools and chose VTCSOM for a variety of reasons. Those reasons included: small class size, PBL/lecture hybrid curriculum, emphasized clinical experience and knowledge early on, the large amount of time allotted for Step 1 studying, required research with time set aside specifically for it, and (less importantly but still relevant) the proximity to lots of hiking, biking, running, etc. We are right next to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Roanoke has a great greenway running through it, and doing things outside is my best stress relief.

I am unsure what you are asking with the second question....what experiences have I had now at the school that would have influenced my original self making the decision to come here? It has been challenging, but all medical schools are. It has also been very interesting and sometimes even fun! The small class and small group style learning has really made the difference for me here. I would make the same decision again today.

Hope this helps! Happy to answer more questions if ya got them!

 

[khendzel]

I was accepted into multiple MD schools and chose VTCSOM for a variety of reasons. Those reasons included: small class size, PBL/lecture hybrid curriculum, emphasized clinical experience and knowledge early on, the large amount of time allotted for Step 1 studying, required research with time set aside specifically for it, and (less importantly but still relevant) the proximity to lots of hiking, biking, running, etc. We are right next to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Roanoke has a great greenway running through it, and doing things outside is my best stress relief.

I am unsure what you are asking with the second question....what experiences have I had now at the school that would have influenced my original self making the decision to come here? It has been challenging, but all medical schools are. It has also been very interesting and sometimes even fun! The small class and small group style learning has really made the difference for me here. I would make the same decision again today.

Hope this helps! Happy to answer more questions if ya got them!

Thanks! Oh and you answered it. I was only asking for a current VTC perspective (vs an applicant) on "why VTC?" You pretty much answered it- next to Blue Ridge, Step 1 studying, etc.
Thanks again

 

[arabella_fig]

Did you all include the prompt within your document or just write A/B?