2016-2017 Southern Illinois University Application Thread

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
DrMantisTobogganMD said:
Congrats! When did you interview by the way? I was told October 4th we would hear about AWPA. Maybe its different for each interview week?
Click to expand...
They do it in batches, so every interview before X date all gets compiled on one meeting date and AWPA are sent after. The meetings are typically the last Thursday of the month, so given snail mail time the letter should arrive by the 4th.
 
I interviewed late August! LizzyM of 71 for those curious. I met others who interviewed early September and they told me they were going to hear back sometime in October as well. Seriously had such a great experience during my interview! It is hard to be super excited though cause it explicitly states on the letter that this is not a guarantee.
 
JinxADC&MD said:
I interviewed late August! LizzyM of 71 for those curious. I met others who interviewed early September and they told me they were going to hear back sometime in October as well. Seriously had such a great experience during my interview! It is hard to be super excited though cause it explicitly states on the letter that this is not a guarantee.
Click to expand...

Right on! Well congrats again. Did you get an email or snail mail? Sorry to be asking all these questions lol. I really enjoyed my interview as well, such nice people.

ncklkrt said:
They do it in batches, so every interview before X date all gets compiled on one meeting date and AWPA are sent after. The meetings are typically the last Thursday of the month, so given snail mail time the letter should arrive by the 4th.
Click to expand...

Hope its an email and not snail mail!
 
DrMantisTobogganMD said:
Right on! Well congrats again. Did you get an email or snail mail? Sorry to be asking all these questions lol. I really enjoyed my interview as well, such nice people.



Hope its an email and not snail mail!
Click to expand...
AWPA is snail mail, unfortunately. Hence why the meet on Thursday and you should hear by Tuesday / Wednesday of the following week.
 
Do any of you guys know what percentage of AWPA candidates are actually accepted into the school?
 
Kasper1000 said:
Do any of you guys know what percentage of AWPA candidates are actually accepted into the school?
Click to expand...
It depends on the total number of applicants, which seems to be increasing each year. For my class, it was about 80-90% as stated. It has never been exhausted in recent history, meaning it doesn't guarantee a spot but the likelihood of an acceptance is still quite high.

As per previous years, most of the movement on AWPA happens after the multi-accept deadline in the spring. Given the rise in applications over the past couple years, I would say the AWPA acceptance has moved closer to 75%.
 
ncklkrt said:
It depends on the total number of applicants, which seems to be increasing each year. For my class, it was about 80-90% as stated. It has never been exhausted in recent history, meaning it doesn't guarantee a spot but the likelihood of an acceptance is still quite high.

As per previous years, most of the movement on AWPA happens after the multi-accept deadline in the spring. Given the rise in applications over the past couple years, I would say the AWPA acceptance has moved closer to 75%.
Click to expand...

Sorry if I sound ignorant, but what do you mean by movement on the AWPA? Also, I had my interview on September 7th, pretty early on in the cycle. With SIU's format with the AWPA list and all, do you think it was still beneficial to have an early interview?
 
Kasper1000 said:
Sorry if I sound ignorant, but what do you mean by movement on the AWPA? Also, I had my interview on September 7th, pretty early on in the cycle. With SIU's format with the AWPA list and all, do you think it was still beneficial to have an early interview?
Click to expand...
Movement means moving down the AWPA list sending acceptances to people farther down on the list as others who has gotten multiple acceptances decline their spot at SIU.

Yes, applying early definitely helps as you will be on the list for 3 separate acceptance cycles.
 
Last edited:
ncklkrt said:
Movement means moving down the AWPA list sending acceptances to people farther down on the list as others who has gotten multiple acceptances decline their spot at SIU.

Yes, applying early definitely helps as your ranking on AWPA will not change but you will be on the list for 3 separate acceptance cycles.
Click to expand...

I would've assumed that your AWPA rank was subject to change as others were added to the list?
 
ncklkrt said:
Movement means moving down the AWPA list sending acceptances to people farther down on the list as others who has gotten multiple acceptances decline their spot at SIU.

Yes, applying early definitely helps as your ranking on AWPA will not change but you will be on the list for 3 separate acceptance cycles.
Click to expand...


I was told differently both by Beth and my interviewer. There is always the chance that another candidate may be placed higher up the AWPA ranking list. @ncklkrt would you mind double checking this?
 
JinxADC&MD said:
I was told differently both by Beth and my interviewer. There is always the chance that another candidate may be placed higher up the AWPA ranking list. @ncklkrt would you mind double checking this?
Click to expand...

What I got out of what was being said by @ncklkrt is that while your AWPA position is not going to be higher just because you interview earlier (other better candidates who interview after you may end up higher even though their interview was later) it is still good to interview early so that when they go through to send out each of the acceptance batches you will be present on their list every time instead of ending up on the list later in the cycle. I may not be wording this well at all but from what I understand from the people who go there that I have been talking to throughout the cycle is that as more people interview your AWPA ranking can change.
 
Found this pretty interesting!

startswithb said:
SIU M1 here. 😉

The PBL medical curriculum works at SIU because we invented it. SIU is nationally recognized for its medical education advances. Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Illinois_University_School_of_Medicine. Also, the LCME loves our school. Read this: http://www.siumed.edu/pubs/aspects/AU07/s3.pdf . As you can gather from the probation issues going on at other schools, the LCME basically wants other schools to be more like us.

An example of how we learn the basic sciences:

"40 year old woman presents to the ER complaining of severe chest pain."

This is the statement we are given initially and from there develop a list of differential diagnoses. We work in groups of 6-8 and have a computer system which lets us "ask" the patient questions in order to take a full history. We can also get physical exam and another other diagnostic test results from this program. Throughout working through the case we develop questions that we will then study in depth to incorporate the basic sciences. For example, with a case of MI we will work backwards to study CAD, then atherosclerosis, ,then the cholesterol synthesis pathway. We do have about 3 hours of lectures per week that are optional (so you don't have to go if you don't learn well through lectures) which help guide us through the basic science topics we need to cover. On average we probably have only four hours of required activities each weekday. This gives us a lot of time to work on what WE, personally need to study, versus sitting through a lecture where we maybe already understand half of what they are teaching.

We also are integrated and systems-based. So, for the first unit in first year we cover everything related to the cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal systems. This includes studying the anatomy and histology related to these systems. I think this is much better than studying all the anatomy of the whole human body and then being done with anatomy and then studying all the medical biochemistry and then being done with it, etc. It's much better to learn the body as a system since, well, it is a system.

We also have a doctoring component to our curriculum. This includes working on standardized patients and spending time with a physician mentor in the field. It helps you start thinking like a doctor earlier and to develop solid clinical skills. I have heard from residents that they feel extremely prepared for residency through the high emphasis placed on clinical skills. I believe our Step 2 CS pass rate is 100%. I know even as a first year I am greatly improving in my abilities to talk to patients and my history taking skills are getting pretty good.

If SIU SOM has any poor reputation is from pre-meds because they don't like the location and it doesn't have a high research ranking. I admit, Carbondale sucks but it's just the first year. Springfield is a great place to learn medicine because there is a large and well-respected medical community there which serves much of the downstate area. We are also the only medical school in the area so our hospital affiliations are solid. There is a burn center, Trauma 1 center, major surgeries, etc. Stuff goes on. Also, we have almost every residency program you could want which really helps if you want to specialize. This includes SIU SOM ortho, urology, dermatology, plastic and reconstructive, etc programs.

As far as research, I think SIU decided that it's going to focus more on advancing medical education instead of research. This is obviously in part because the school is small and not connected to a large university in Springfield. However, there is a program for students to do research between first and second years which provides funding. Students can also spend time at other institutions. I know there are a good number of people that conduct research at Wash U over the summer.

Our average incoming student stats are lower because the population from which SIU selects its students is smaller. We don't have anyone coming from out of state which would drive up the competition. SIU also selects for "good doctor" personal characteristics (from what I've gathered). There are literally no socially awkward people in our class and our class is very active and there are always fun things planned. Also, our class is CLOSE. There is not one person that I would not recognize. And if we have a party or event, most people come.

So, overall, I would agree that SIU is underrated in the pre-medical world. However, I know we have a good reputation in the professional world. We are very well-trained. Our graduation student satisfactory rating is consistently 100%. That's impressive.
Click to expand...
 
abbiemae said:
What I got out of what was being said by @ncklkrt is that while your AWPA position is not going to be higher just because you interview earlier (other better candidates who interview after you may end up higher even though their interview was later) it is still good to interview early so that when they go through to send out each of the acceptance batches you will be present on their list every time instead of ending up on the list later in the cycle. I may not be wording this well at all but from what I understand from the people who go there that I have been talking to throughout the cycle is that as more people interview your AWPA ranking can change.
Click to expand...
Correct. Sorry for any misunderstanding.
 
Does anyone know when the cut off for AWPA consideration for the first adcom meeting is? That is, when they stop accepting applications to consider for admission off the AWPA list for the December decision date?
 
Also, does anybody have anything to offer as to the time lapse between secondary submission and interview invite, for those who have interviewed already.
 
Anyone know if you can call about the post-interview list you've made? Committee meeting was this week and the wait is unbearable!
 
DrMantisTobogganMD said:
Anyone know if you can call about the post-interview list you've made? Committee meeting was this week and the wait is unbearable!
Click to expand...

They specifically told our group not to call lol. You should receive a letter in the mail by Friday.
 
DrMantisTobogganMD said:
Anyone know if you can call about the post-interview list you've made? Committee meeting was this week and the wait is unbearable!
Click to expand...

I'm right there with you, the wait has been driving me crazy! But the general notion I've seen on here is that calling about things like that does nothing more than annoy the adcoms. It's been a month already, we can handle a few more days!
 
DrMantisTobogganMD said:
Anyone know if you can call about the post-interview list you've made? Committee meeting was this week and the wait is unbearable!
Click to expand...
When was the committee meeting? Has anyone out there heard anything?

And no, don't call! 🙂
 
How long after choosing a date did you receive a confirmation of the interview date? It's close to three weeks for me now and I haven't heard back...


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
Uqbar said:
How long after choosing a date did you receive a confirmation of the interview date? It's close to three weeks for me now and I haven't heard back...


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Click to expand...

I think they say 2-3 weeks in the email when you pick your dates.
 
HalfManHalfBirdman said:
Committee meeting was October 4.
Click to expand...
Correct. Meaning any notifications about AWPA, etc. will come Tuesday / Wednesday of next week, unless you live super close you may get something Friday.

@themurph9252 They meet for December admissions the week before Thanksgiving, usually. Depending on number of applicants it may be the week after. I received my acceptance on 12/2/13 via e-mail. First acceptances go out before Christmas break and Adcoms usually don't have any meetings between Thanksgiving and New Years. You can attempt to call for an exact date, but any interview before Thanksgiving week will usually be in the first admissions batch.

Time between secondary submission and interview can be 2-3 weeks, especially during this time when application process is in full swing.
 
DrCaffeinated said:
AWPA!

So now they don't give any actual acceptances (except early decision?) until December?
Click to expand...
Congrats! And yes, the first batch of acceptances (about 25 people, usually) goes out in the beginning of December. Second and third batches come out in the Spring, and then rolling admissions as the multi-accept deadline approaches.
 
ncklkrt said:
Congrats! And yes, the first batch of acceptances (about 25 people, usually) goes out in the beginning of December. Second and third batches come out in the Spring, and then rolling admissions as the multi-accept deadline approaches.
Click to expand...
Thank you! Feeling like a kid waiting for Christmas! The anticipation is driving me bonkers!
 
Waiting is the easy part after everything you all have done to get this far! We are very excited to see all the new faces next year - best of luck to everyone!
 
ncklkrt said:
@themurph9252 They meet for December admissions the week before Thanksgiving, usually. Depending on number of applicants it may be the week after. I received my acceptance on 12/2/13 via e-mail. First acceptances go out before Christmas break and Adcoms usually don't have any meetings between Thanksgiving and New Years. You can attempt to call for an exact date, but any interview before Thanksgiving week will usually be in the first admissions batch.

Time between secondary submission and interview can be 2-3 weeks, especially during this time when application process is in full swing.
Click to expand...


Hearing this makes me happy that I have an interview in early November! Thanks!
 
Does anyone know when the next round of letters will be sent out? I interviewed on 9/28
 
sherma11 said:
Does anyone know when the next round of letters will be sent out? I interviewed on 9/28
Click to expand...
Letters for AWPA? They meet once a month and I believe your interview date was after their September meeting. They should be meeting next week to review all the applicants from their last meeting through next week.
 
ncklkrt said:
Letters for AWPA? They meet once a month and I believe your interview date was after their September meeting. They should be meeting next week to review all the applicants from their last meeting through next week.
Click to expand...

They met on Tuesday the 18th! I got my AWPA letter today! First school that I've interviewed at and heard back from so im stoked!
 
ncklkrt said:
Waiting is the easy part after everything you all have done to get this far! We are very excited to see all the new faces next year - best of luck to everyone!
Click to expand...

Hi ncklkrt- considering SIU and really enjoyed the program. Wanted to check- could you give us a run down of what the typical MS1 schedule looked like? How does this differ from MS2?

Also- appreciate your breakdown how PBL works. Do people find it difficult knowing what to study/what exactly to know for exams, given that there are minimal lectures and a lot of it is based on your own studying/ your own choice of books etc? Also, do you typically have enough time in the day to come back home and study?

Just wanted to get your thoughts. Thanks!
 
investmentdoc said:
Hi ncklkrt- considering SIU and really enjoyed the program. Wanted to check- could you give us a run down of what the typical MS1 schedule looked like? How does this differ from MS2?

Also- appreciate your breakdown how PBL works. Do people find it difficult knowing what to study/what exactly to know for exams, given that there are minimal lectures and a lot of it is based on your own studying/ your own choice of books etc? Also, do you typically have enough time in the day to come back home and study?

Just wanted to get your thoughts. Thanks!
Click to expand...

MS1 Schedule = 3 units, each 1/3 of the year starting with CRR (cardio, respiratory, renal) --> NMB (neuro, muscular, behavioral) --> ERG (endrocrine, reproductive, GI). Each unit takes about 1/3 of the school year and we are a systems based school meaning you will learn EVERYTHING related to the listed systems in the unit from anatomy to complex biochemistry. This is an awesome approach as the whole body works together so it's nice to learn how everything works together down to the cellular level. You will have PBL sessions M/W/F for three hours a day (usually 8a-11a) to discuss cases and that schedule continues throughout the year, although you switch your groups each unit. After PBL on M/W/F and on the other days are optional lectures that help reinforce the material you've been learning.
SIU is fantastic in that you get doctoring and clinical experience from day one, and you will see your first standardized patient on week 2. You will have doctoring and SP experiences mixed throughout your lectures and those sessions are usually required.
There is a midterm exam in the first two units and a final exam on each of the three units. You have to pass the final written exams plus the doctoring portion of each exam in order to continue on to second year.

MS2 Schedule = 4 units, each 1/4 of the year. New one is HII (hematology, infection, immunology) and then you repeat the first three units. MS2 is focused much more on pathology and pharmacology. Your PBL sessions are different times as you have a practicing doctor or older medical student and they are scheduled to fit their schedule. PBL is only 2 hours 3 times a week to start and usually ends up 1-2 hours 2 times a week toward the end.

TLDR: MS1 = learn how the body is supposed to work from anatomy to biochemistry and how to take a proper history and do a physical exam; MS2 = what happens when something goes wrong and how to fix it + further developing clinical skills.

In terms of finding out what to study, the first unit of MS1 is an extra few weeks to allow time to get acquainted with medical school. It usually takes a month or two to figure out the depth of material you're expected to know and the midterm exams have almost no weight and are used to evaluate your study habits. Most people are completely comfortable with the depth and expectations by 2-3 months.

No textbooks are required, but you will receive a list of recommended books from the upperclassmen and almost everyone uses the same few books, but you're welcome to use whatever works for you to learn best. I relied a LOT more on internet sources rather than textbooks and that worked well for me.

SIU does a great job of laying the groundwork of what you're expected to know and relies completely on your own motivation and desire to learn to succeed as you will teach yourself new topics and get reinforced lectures after the fact.

Lastly, in terms of free time: you can have as much free time as you want. If you want to get 100% on all the exams and be a perfect student, you will be studying 24/7. SIU is a super chill school and most students enjoy themselves after classes and weekends. It's really how well you study vs the hours put in. I know some people who study 10 hours a day and do average while others study 4-5 a day and score phenomenally. Your schedule is completely up to you, but I and the rest of us highly recommend taking a least a full day off per week to yourself! Lectures are typically done by 3-4pm giving plenty of time to either take the night off with your loved ones or head home and hit the books.

Whew! Feel free to ask for clarification on anything as that was a super long-winded post, but hope it helps!
 
I'd like to add that the clinical experience in M1-M2 is very helpful in clinical years. By the beginning of M3 you will already be developing your own style of interviewing/history gathering, will feel comfortable writing down minimal or no notes (which really helps with efficiency), will have had practice presenting to attendings in outpatient and inpatient team settings, and will be comfortable and competent doing some of the more intimidating things like sexual histories, contraceptive counseling, rectal/genital/pelvic/breast exams (you start practicing these at the beginning of M2), etc. It makes the transition to M3 pretty smooth and lets you focus on gaining clinical knowledge while reinforcing the clinical skills you've already begun to develop.
 
@Pasmal and @ncklkrt and any other SIU students or alumni watching...

Would you address the questions from this post regarding clinicals at SIU, as well as any other input and advice or tips you might have? I wish I had happened upon that post before my interviews. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/application-process-looking-back-as-a-4th-year.104541/

I've copied and pasted the questions without the OP's elaboration below:

1) What is the 3rd year like and how is it structured?:

a) How are the rotations structured? What is your role on the wards? Do you have a clear role Do you get your "hands dirty" alot, or is it alot of shadowing?

2) Where do 3rd year evaluations come from?

3) Where do the students end up? (for residency)

4) How are medical students protected from scut?

5) How receptive is the administation to fixing problems and/or disciplining out of line behavior, espcially from residents?

6) how is the research opportunities at this school?

7) how good is this school at focusing on the bread and butter? (Not sure what is meant by this, so I'm extra curious. OP's elaboration below: )

This is especially relevant if you are looking at an academic powerhouse type place. Typically alot of times you will find that big tertiary centers tend to be filled with people who A) study esoteric diseases, B) specialize in highly uncommon or speciallized surgeries or diagnostic tests, or C) only doing big commando surgeries on cases people in the community looked at and said no way im touching that.

This is something you may be interested in as an attending or at the end of your residency. However in medical school most of these areas will not be your field and learning the literature on steroid tapers for patients with the CREST syndrome, the signs and symptoms of spinocerebellar ataxia 8 or how to resect a pseudomyxoma peritonei is probably not the best use of time in your only exposure to the area. Its easy to get caught up in that stuff, however good schools recognize the nature of the academic beast and try to make sure that you leave knowing the stages of active labor, how to read an EKG and how to manage childhood asthma.

Thanks so much for being available to answer our questions.
 
Last edited:
1) What is the 3rd year like and how is it structured?:
We are the guinea pig class of a brand new third year experience and it's been fantastic so far. You rotate through each core clerkship for one month beginning in July and ending in March (pediatrics, family medicine, neurology, psychiatry, internal medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, and ob/gyn) You are allowed to pick your rotation schedule i.e. in what order you want to complete them in, but all 8 are required. The final 15 weeks of MS3 are electives. The better you do grade wise in MS2 and your results from MS3 rotations give you more freedom in electives. You can choose to do all 15 weeks in what you want to do or if undecided do half in one and half in the other - it's up to you! SHELF exams are no longer required, allowing you to completely immerse yourself in the clinical experience and not have to wander off to study. Most people study on their own during down time or at home afterwards but just for self knowledge and Step 2 preparations.

a) How are the rotations structured? What is your role on the wards? Do you have a clear role Do you get your "hands dirty" alot, or is it alot of shadowing?
Each rotation has a director and staff and you get your schedule for that month about one week before you begin. Each rotation is completely different schedules and changes depending on your assigned preceptor. They are doing away with the new-doc-each-day and usually have you working with one primary doctor and you may see one or two more depending on your primary preceptor's schedule. Each rotation is usually half inpatient and half outpatient. Outpatient days are usually 8-5 M-F and inpatient days can range from 7a-7p 7 days a week or less, depending on your assignments.

Our role is the primary history/physical exam taker and the go-to for questions about your assigned patients. You will be assigned 2-3 patients while on inpatient and expected to know everything about them including any pending labs, etc. you are expected to be the first one to know when a lab comes back and update the team. You will present your patients to the whole team during rounds. In outpatient, you are usually sent in first by yourself or with a resident to do a history and physical and then present to the attending and then you all go back in together.

You are welcome to get your hands as dirty as you want. They recommend you follow nurses to your patients and assist or observe any procedures. I was following a pediatric patient who needed an MRI and went with the patient and his family to the imaging and back and got to assist in the MRI process. You cannot perform any tasks besides H&P without direct supervision, but most residents and docs so far will let you do whatever you're comfortable with and they will watch you.

2) Where do 3rd year evaluations come from?
SIU is HUGE on feedback. We have an "on-the-fly" form that you can have on your phones that any attending or resident you work with can fill out on the spot. They take those into consideration when gathering the final evaluations which are compiled from your assigned preceptor and any other residents you may have worked with during that rotation. You receive your final clerkship grade 4-6 weeks after completion. Some clerkships have an SP experience at the end that goes into your final grade while others just gather a final evaluation from your team. So far all evaluations have been spot-on.

3) Where do the students end up? (for residency)
http://www.siumed.edu/studentaffairs/admissions/nrmpresults.html

4) How are medical students protected from scut?
I'm over halfway done with clerkships and have yet to be asked to do something I would consider scut work. You will be asked to call offices and fax forms but only if you're free and during downtime. Everyone I've worked with has been very respectful and considers us a part of the team rather than a subordinate, which is a benefit of SIU as they practice what they teach in terms of respect and compassion for everyone.

5) How receptive is the administation to fixing problems and/or disciplining out of line behavior, espcially from residents?
110%. Each clerkship you're provided with administrator's cell phone numbers for any concerns. You also have direct lines to the dean of the school starting from MS2. E-mails and calls are responded within the hour and they take student abuse extremely seriously. The staff both at the school and everyone I've worked with in the hospitals and clinics has been nothing but extremely kind and helpful.

6) how is the research opportunities at this school?
We are a primary-care focused education school and thus tend to focus much more on clinical experiences, but if you're interested in research there is TONS of opportunities that you can schedule yourself and work in between your required experiences.

7) how good is this school at focusing on the bread and butter?
Fantastic. Even during pre-clinicals, you know what's important and useful and what isn't. Each clerkship wants you to get the overall experience and you will be taught the most common things each specialty sees. Nobody has pimped us on anything esoteric and all questions have been patient-relevant and useful in the clerkship. You'll have to learn all the esoteric things for STEP 1 like every other medical student in the USA but the focus is on the pertinent and useful information.
 
Received "Ranked Alternate" aka a rejection. So odd that they gave me an II incredibly fast and then this result real fast. whelp, hope my other interviews go well. Time to try and not overdo re-evaluating who I am as a person and an interviewee.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

wysdoc
2024-2025 Southern Illinois (SIU)
2 3 4
Replies
181
Views
41K
weewoobusdriver
W
wysdoc
2023-2024 Southern Illinois
2 3 4
Replies
166
Views
40K
discodolphin
D
wysdoc
2024-2025 Illinois
16 17 18 19 20
Replies
997
Views
202K
freezyqueen1432
F
chilly_md
2024-2025 Carle-Illinois
2 3 4 5
Replies
232
Views
54K
User_0202604
User_0202604
wysdoc
2022-2023 Southern Illinois
2 3 4 5 6
Replies
269
Views
52K
sarif24
S
Top