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To clarify if you were put on hold today you were considered and not offered an A today. Sorry if that is disappointing but I’ve said this many times only about 200/700 get accepted on the four dates with approx 100 being pulled off waitlist.
 
Are people getting rejection letters on these designated committee review dates? I interviewed like 11/9 -- still no tabs or email updates :/ Just trying to figure out if I should tell myself I've been rejected or maybe I'll end up on the WL.
 
purplemose10 said:
Are people getting rejection letters on these designated committee review dates? I interviewed like 11/9 -- still no tabs or email updates :/ Just trying to figure out if I should tell myself I've been rejected or maybe I'll end up on the WL.
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If you’ve gotten the “hold” status post-II, then as far as I’m aware for now you are safe from a rejection. On these committee dates, you can expect either an acceptance, or total silence. Then in mid-March all of us who’ve heard nothing but silence will be informed whether or not we have been placed on the waitlist. If you don’t get placed on the waitlist at that point, you’re rejected.
 
keelhaul said:
If you’ve gotten the “hold” status post-II, then as far as I’m aware for now you are safe from a rejection. On these committee dates, you can expect either an acceptance, or total silence. Then in mid-March all of us who’ve heard nothing but silence will be informed whether or not we have been placed on the waitlist. If you don’t get placed on the waitlist at that point, you’re rejected.
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Ahh well thanks for the insight. The painful waiting continues!
 
esperanzarising9 said:
@ppushpak and other current VCU students:

1. Are exams at VCU based on NBME unit finals?

2. If not, do you think studying for VCU classes helps a lot with studying for step 1?

Thanks in advance answering these questions 🙂
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Not NBME exams, will let older people comment on how classes help with STEP as I haven't taken it. Many of our curriculum deans/faculty write for STEP/NBME so I'd believe that the class material is relevant
 
I heard from one of my tour guides that VCU is including free qbanks for step? Ofc I realize that it’s a part of the tuition package but wanted to confirm that this is true. Also, if so, what company are the qbanks from?

@ppushpak
 
HappEness said:
I heard from one of my tour guides that VCU is including free qbanks for step? Ofc I realize that it’s a part of the tuition package but wanted to confirm that this is true. Also, if so, what company are the qbanks from?

@ppushpak
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USMLE-RX
 
Does the MSAR list the first day of class for 2020? I lost access and don't want to spend $25 to find out...
 
MSAR shows August 03, 2020. You don't need to pay for MSAR for the 'Overview' information.
 
ppushpak said:
USMLE-RX
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Are doing these QBank practice questions mandatory/built into the curriculum, have you found it to be helpful even during 1st year? I've heard most students wait until second year to start using them because sometimes it doesn't line up with with the curriculum.
 
VCU is an accelerated curriculum so we start systems in Spring Semester of M1. We are given a few QBank questions (30-60) that line up with our curriculum block to finish so we get accustomed to USMLE style questions. We are also encouraged to start UWorld on our own in March of Spring M1.
 
i have an interview next week anyone have any suggested accomodations? airbnb/hotel etc? I will be driving
 
Would also like to know when second look is if anyone knows


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
hckbsb3 said:
When is second look day? I have been accepted but haven't heard anything about it yet.
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Medboi96 said:
Would also like to know when second look is if anyone knows


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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I got an email for a meet and greet on Fri March 27th at 7pm with thinfant continuing until Sat. at 3pm. I assume this is their second look, idk. Says it’s the SNMA/LMSA weekend.
 
esperanzarising9 said:
@ppushpak could you talk about your overall schedule as a M1? (the time of day you're in classes etc) Thanks!
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From 8 AM to 12 PM we have lecture pertaining to the block. Our class is split up into 4 societies and based on your society you will have a certain schedule in the afternoon
There are some weeks where I will have only 1 class in the afternoon and there are some weeks where we will have many (around 3 but can be more or less) afternoons that are busy.

Also, I'm not sure if I'm allowed to put screenshots of our schedule here so I will ask our curriculum office before I do. If I'm not allowed I'll just create a template

HappEness said:
Current students: which apartments do you recommend?
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Answered in the Facebook group!

Medboi96 said:
Would also like to know when second look is if anyone knows


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Last I heard, the second look will be virtual this year. They didn't have one last year for everyone, I believe it was for select students. I will follow up with the admissions office on this
 
How is AOA determined at VCU? Also when are students able to apply for it?
 
esperanzarising9 said:
Thank you @ppushpak!! That would be great if you could post a screenshot or a template

Also, does VCU internally rank during preclinicals?
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No, they got rid of pre-clinical ranking 3 years ago. You're allowed to ask for what quartile you are in, in respect to your class. However, quartile does not get reported to residencies
Now that Step 1 is P/F for incoming M1s, I'm not sure what will happen regarding rank/quartiles

HappEness said:
How is AOA determined at VCU? Also when are students able to apply for it?
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The following excerpts are from VCUSOM's Student Handbook (subject to change).

All students will be elected into AOA after their Junior year of medical school. Immediately after all grades have been certified, the class rank will be determined. All students in the first 25% of the class will be eligible for election into AOA. Election into AOA will be determined as follows:
  1. The top 8% of students whose rank as determined by the formula (class rank X 0.75) + (Step 1 score rank X 0.25) will be automatically elected into the honor society with the following exceptions:
  2. The remaining 8% of students will be determined by the following method:
    o All remaining students in the top 25% of the class after the third year of medical school will be invited to complete an application for AOA. This application will request details of leadership experiences, community service to school and the community at large, and research and publications (abstracts and papers will be counted separately as well as poster and oral presentations will be counted separately).

    o These data will be de-identified and presented to the students just elected and faculty members of AOA. These members will score each candidate based on what they wrote on their application (5 for best, 1 for lowest in each category), then the student's points will be ranked. The Formula 0.75{(class rank X 0.75) + (board score rank X 0.25)} + 0.25 X characteristic rank shall be used to determine the top students in this group.
 
Distinction/Pass/Fail seems more important to consider than ever. How else would students going for competitive residencies distinguish themselves, now that step 1 is pass fail?
 
Morc said:
Distinction/Pass/Fail seems more important to consider than ever. How else would students going for competitive residencies distinguish themselves, now that step 1 is pass fail?
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School rank lol
 
Morc said:
Distinction/Pass/Fail seems more important to consider than ever. How else would students going for competitive residencies distinguish themselves, now that step 1 is pass fail?
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It's a good question - Curriculum Offices, as well as the Residency Directors, will spend this transition period trying to figure that out. I don't think there's a clear answer - I think it will end up just shifting Step 1 stress over to other things like Pre-Clinical grades, M3 Rotation Grades, Rank, Step 2 CK, AOA
 
Step 1 is pass/fail for incoming M1s? So they are doing away with the three digit score? First time I've heard of that!
 
jpvn2015 said:
Step 1 is pass/fail for incoming M1s? So they are doing away with the three digit score? First time I've heard of that!
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It was just announced today - previously they had only talked about it. Unsure when it takes effect, but no sooner than January 2022.
 
rdyotz said:
It was just announced today - previously they had only talked about it. Unsure when it takes effect, but no sooner than January 2022.
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Gotcha. Yeah I was just reading up about it...guess I'm late to the news. I guess since we do not have an exact date when it takes effect we don't know for sure if it will apply to incoming M1s yet right?
 
@ppushpak When do students at VCU typically take Step 2? Also, how are clerkships graded at VCU? (Like what percentage of shelf exam and what percentage of evals factor into your clerkship grade?)
 
Last edited:
Is this school low enough rank that its affected strongly by step 1 P/F
 
Talldoctor96 said:
Vcu historically matches very well. These strong connections aren’t just going to evaporate. I am not even coming here and I can say RD know what schools they want students from. That’s jus not going to vanish.
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im not going anywhere but i was just wondering due to upcomig interview
 
Talldoctor96 said:
Vcu historically matches very well. These strong connections aren’t just going to evaporate. I am not even coming here and I can say RD know what schools they want students from. That’s jus not going to vanish.
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Also what I don’t get is those that are very worried about step 1 being P/F could theoretically take it early right? If it goes to that in 2022 then it could be taken at the end of the first semester of M2 for this cycles entering class of 2020, right (Dec 2021)? It might be harder with less exposure but if its such a concern because someone wants to match competitively, isn’t that an option?
 
I’d imagine given VCU as a mid tier it will probably be in the range of schools that goes unaffected (I.e., it’s not benefited by step being p/f, but it’s also not hurt). No one really knows though. VCU has a trend of great residency replacement though, and so I agree that the trend should continue. Plus, VCU is always recognized as a top two school in VA, so the regional ties should still be strong.
 
Hi everyone, I interviewed here a few days ago and loved it! I had a question though; I remember Dr. Baker mentioning that if we want to get updates in before the committee meets, we should do that asap. Does anyone know what email to send that update to?
 
munnabhai_ said:
Hi everyone, I interviewed here a few days ago and loved it! I had a question though; I remember Dr. Baker mentioning that if we want to get updates in before the committee meets, we should do that asap. Does anyone know what email to send that update to?
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IIRC you email Dr. Whitehurst-Cook directly. Her email is on their website
 
Just randomly checked the portal and for the first time in a couple weeks and noticed this message. My status has been "File Complete. Sub-committee will do a review will now do a review..." message since July and this is the first change since.

Hold for MCAT -- The Committee wishes to wait to evaluate your file until new MCAT scores are available. MCATs taken after September of the year of application will not be considered. If you are not planning to take or retake the MCAT, please contact our office immediately by email at [email protected]

Hold for Grades -- The file review done by the Committee has determined that you are engaged in coursework which may affect their decision about whether to invite you for an interview. It is imperative that you submit grades for current or proposed courses in a timely fashion. Any file on hold for grades that are not submitted by January 31st will automatically be rejected. If you did not take the course indicated on your primary or supplemental application, please notify us immediately by email at [email protected]

I know that interviews end in March, but my MCAT was complete way before applying and pre-requisites has been complete for years now. What's going on here??
 
OHCA said:
Just randomly checked the portal and for the first time in a couple weeks and noticed this message. My status has been "File Complete. Sub-committee will do a review will now do a review..." message since July and this is the first change since.

Hold for MCAT -- The Committee wishes to wait to evaluate your file until new MCAT scores are available. MCATs taken after September of the year of application will not be considered. If you are not planning to take or retake the MCAT, please contact our office immediately by email at [email protected]

Hold for Grades -- The file review done by the Committee has determined that you are engaged in coursework which may affect their decision about whether to invite you for an interview. It is imperative that you submit grades for current or proposed courses in a timely fashion. Any file on hold for grades that are not submitted by January 31st will automatically be rejected. If you did not take the course indicated on your primary or supplemental application, please notify us immediately by email at [email protected]

I know that interviews end in March, but my MCAT was complete way before applying and pre-requisites has been complete for years now. What's going on here??
Click to expand...

It is an automated message that has nothing to do with you personally. This has happened to multiple people over multiple cycles. I called when this appeared on my portal last cycle. Gail kindly explained it is just a general message that can pop up on peoples portals as a reminder. Nothing to do with you.
 
esperanzarising9 said:
Haha but I’m actually really curious since it’s Richmond, not New York or San Fran

Also, unrelated question, what type of travel abroad opportunities are offered at VCU?
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there are quite a few mission trips that you can do over spring break or the summer. Is this what you are asking about?
 
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