2016-2017 Virginia Commonwealth University Application Thread

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Serious question lol what tense did you guys use for the secondary prompt? Like did you write "I'd say XYZ, then id tell her ABC. I'd ask her why shes concerned...etc etc" or did you write it as a direct conversation like "I think you should check out XYZ, it is important to know ABC.....etc etc"
I also used the "would" tense. There is an important part in the prompt that you need to address before giving any suggestions to the mother.
 
i just signed into my portal and saw that I was granted a secondary, how many people get secondaries out of total applicants?
is there a way to check the date that i was granted the secondary?
been verified on 8/12
 
i just signed into my portal and saw that I was granted a secondary, how many people get secondaries out of total applicants?
is there a way to check the date that i was granted the secondary?
been verified on 8/12

Website says they granted 2800 secondaries last cycle.
 
Website says they granted 2800 secondaries last cycle.

yeah just did some more research
" To assist you in understanding this decision process, we received over 9,000 applications in 2014 and send supplementals to only about 2,800 candidates."

yay! it's definitely a good sign to get a secondary from here
 
I submitted my secondary at the end of July and I still haven't got the message indicating that my application is complete. Anyone else in the same boat...?
 
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No. I submitted 8/12 and got the complete and will be reviewed by the sub-committee message on 8/16. Are your letters in yet?

Yes, my letter packet was sent out electronically late July. I also called them to confirm they have everything.
 
I submitted my secondary at the end of July and I still haven't got the message indicating that my application is complete. Anyone else in the same boat...?
I submitted on 7/30 and this is the message I have
"
Your supplemental application has been received. Once your supplemental application fee is received and your recommendation letters are processed, your file will be complete. For those applicants who are not citizens of the US or Canada, must submit an electronic copy of your Green Card using the “applicant portal” before a full review can proceed.

Your application will then be forwarded to the subcommittee for review. Please be aware that it may take up to 2-3 weeks for processing."

Is this the same one you have?
 
MCAT scores??? If they have everything I don't know why your status hasn't changed...

I dont think so. I took the MCAT months ago so they really should have everything. I am a bit confused as to why my status hasn't changed...
 
I submitted on 7/30 and this is the message I have
"
Your supplemental application has been received. Once your supplemental application fee is received and your recommendation letters are processed, your file will be complete. For those applicants who are not citizens of the US or Canada, must submit an electronic copy of your Green Card using the “applicant portal” before a full review can proceed.

Your application will then be forwarded to the subcommittee for review. Please be aware that it may take up to 2-3 weeks for processing."
Is this the same one you have?

YES. That is the exact message. Are you waiting on any other materials to be submitted?
 
I have that message. I realized only a few days ago that I hadn't assigned letters to the school (since they said they wanted them if you got a secondary). Feel like a total dope. I assigned them and am waiting for them to update (hopefully).
 
YES. That is the exact message. Are you waiting on any other materials to be submitted?
Nope everything is in and complete. Not sure why its taking so long. Are there many of you waiting? If so they're just behind.
 
Hello everyone!

So, I submitted my application to VCU and when I signed into the portal...the secondary was just 'sitting' there. I had not been "invited" or anything like that. I submitted the secondary and I am now complete....did I skip a step in the process? Did I jump the gun on filling out the secondary? Does everyone get a secondary?

Note, my portal says: "Your MD file is now complete. The Sub-Committee will now do a review...".
 
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Hello everyone!

So, I submitted my application to VCU and when I signed into the portal...the secondary was just 'sitting' there. I had not been "invited" or anything like that. I submitted the secondary and I am now complete....did I skip a step in the process? Did I jump the gun on filling out the secondary? Does everyone get a secondary?

Note, my portal says: "Your MD file is now complete. The Sub-Committee will now do a review...".

See previous posts but essentially
  • You have been invited to complete a secondary if you can see it in the portal. Not everyone received an email invite, as they seem to be experiencing some technical issues.
  • About 1/3 of applicants receive a secondary invite according to the school's website.
 
See previous posts but essentially
  • You have been invited to complete a secondary if you can see it in the portal. Not everyone received an email invite, as they seem to be experiencing some technical issues.
  • About 1/3 of applicants receive a secondary invite according to the school's website.
I know I apologize, I am lazy. Thank you, however, for taking the time to answer my questions. I really appreciate it. Best of luck!!!
 
Rejected via portal 🙁 my first rejection. OOS
Good luck to the rest of you guys!
 
What is URM? Not familiar with the acronym.
Underrepresented in medicine

AAMC definition: "Underrepresented in medicine means those racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population."
 
Underrepresented in medicine

AAMC definition: "Underrepresented in medicine means those racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population."

Gotcha. Thanks.
 
Do you know if they're interviewing IS first?
I'm OOS, had the "very interested in your candidacy, please anticipate an email for possible interview" status for at least a week but haven't received any email or seen any changes on the portal 🙁
I'm just getting nervous because I haven't heard back from any school except one rejection haha D:
 
Do you know if they're interviewing IS first?
I'm OOS, had the "very interested in your candidacy, please anticipate an email for possible interview" status for at least a week but haven't received any email or seen any changes on the portal 🙁
I'm just getting nervous because I haven't heard back from any school except one rejection haha D:
At least you got the "very interested" status change. I've been sitting with the subcommittee will do a review status for about a month and a half now.
 
Do you know if they're interviewing IS first?
I'm OOS, had the "very interested in your candidacy, please anticipate an email for possible interview" status for at least a week but haven't received any email or seen any changes on the portal 🙁
I'm just getting nervous because I haven't heard back from any school except one rejection haha D:
I'm also OOS with the "very interested in your candidacy" and wondering about timing. It'd be nice to schedule an interview around my other East Coast area interview, but no idea when to expect an official email from VCU.
 
I'm also OOS with the "very interested in your candidacy" and wondering about timing. It'd be nice to schedule an interview around my other East Coast area interview, but no idea when to expect an official email from VCU.
I'm OOS and have had that status since August 1. I'm waiting patiently because certain applicants are probably scheduled first: IS, URM, fmStat, early decision, etc. I wouldn't sweat it because this status essentially means we will get an II at some point in the cycle. Will update here when I get an official II.
 
I think last year there was an actual "hold" status, so hopefully our portal will change someday!
There was a similar status this year as well. If you look at earlier posts, someone had the status that said, "the committee has finished its review and you will be notified if you are invited for an interview."
 
Same...I think we are on hold if I had to guess.
I don't think we are on hold, just stuck somewhere in the process. Goro and GYNGYN explained on another thread that our apps could have been assigned to a reviewer who is taking their sweet time and will start cranking out apps at the last minute. Idk about you, but I am an OOS applicant with decent stats, not amazing. I am at the bottom of the pecking order.
 
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Turning in secondary a lot later than I planned on but hoping for some love from VCU.
 
For anyone needing help on the secondary, I've listed some good talking points :

  • Wakefield's study shows significant relationship between MMR vaccination and the development of autism spectrum disorders in children ("We identified associated gastrointestinal disease and developmental regression in a group of previously normal children, which was generally associated in time with possible environmental triggers." - Wakefield, AJ FRC. "Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children". 1998.)
  • Experts suggest current vaccination schedule is overly saturated and should be cut down
  • Polio prevelancy is down nationwide 99% since 1988. Why are we even vaccinating for a disease that doesn't exist anymore?
  • HPV vaccines lead to increased sexual activity among teenagers and should only be given if the parents support pre-marital sex/expect a promiscuous teenager.
  • In general, science has been shown to be ineffective in producing vaccines (eg. lack of HIV/AIDS, cancer "cure" vaccines, etc.)
For your tone, I'd suggest you be stern, border-line condescending towards the mother. After all, you did just get into medical school and she's bothering you during your previous pre-medical school free time.


Good luck everyone! Excited to start med school with all of you in the fall.
These are all excellent starting points!

These were my main talking points:
1. I made it clear that she must steer clear of the advice of physicians, the CDC, and she should ignore all those bogus "scientific studies" because they are all funded by Big Pharma
2. I told her that measles doesnt even exist in nature; it is a hoax perpetrated by Big Pharma and the Illuminati after they realized that they could not fool every parent with their ADHD scam.
3. Infectious disease did not exist until Monsanto introduced the first GMO

If this doesn't get me into VCU, then its clear that the ADCOMs are employed by the Illuminati

See you guys in medical school!
 
These are all excellent starting points!

These were my main talking points:
1. I made it clear that she must steer clear of the advice of physicians, the CDC, and she should ignore all those bogus "scientific studies" because they are all funded by Big Pharma
2. I told her that measles doesnt even exist in nature; it is a hoax perpetrated by Big Pharma and the Illuminati after they realized that they could not fool every parent with their ADHD scam.
3. Infectious disease did not exist until Monsanto introduced the first GMO

If this doesn't get me into VCU, then its clear that the ADCOMs are employed by the Illuminati

See you guys in medical school!
You forgot that vaccines are not gluten free...
 
Yep. If those responses don't get y'all in.... I don't know what will. Hilarious.
 
And after more than three weeks of processing, my file is finally complete. . :dead: glad I contacted them
 
I realize I'm turning in the secondary a bit late, but I have a question regarding their course requirements. They seem to 6 credits worth of English, but does AP English count towards this requirement? I've looked on their site and it doesn't say.

I probably have 6 credits worth of classes that count towards English but are not "English" explicitly, so I'm not sure if I should list those and see if they can sort them out? It doesn't really give me a place to explain myself. It would makes things easier if I knew whether they accepted AP. :\ It's literally the last part of this application I need to do.
 
@Mandalore The website says "Prerequisites for admission include a minimum of 90 semester hours (or the equivalent) in a U.S. college or university" and "English or writing intensive courses : six credits of writing intensive courses. Other courses may be substituted upon request, please contact the admissions office."

This is just my opinion but it sounds like your prereqs should be from college/university directly, and any writing-intensive courses (not necessarily english) would suffice. However, I would contact the admissions office to be sure. I find it's more useful to ask through the admissions portal>Help function than to call...
 
I realize I'm turning in the secondary a bit late, but I have a question regarding their course requirements. They seem to 6 credits worth of English, but does AP English count towards this requirement? I've looked on their site and it doesn't say.

I probably have 6 credits worth of classes that count towards English but are not "English" explicitly, so I'm not sure if I should list those and see if they can sort them out? It doesn't really give me a place to explain myself. It would makes things easier if I knew whether they accepted AP. :\ It's literally the last part of this application I need to do.

if you email Michelle Whitehurst-Cook (on website) you can describe the course and how many essays you wrote, and she'll indicate if it's sufficient 🙂.
 
Has anybody who has the complete status for around a month contacted the office to inquire about it? I submitted secondary on 7/28, and has had the complete status since 7/29. Starting to get worried!
 
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