2020-2021 Hofstra (Zucker)

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thetenthletter said:
I can't seem to find anything on Hofstra's site, but UMass has a 2 week deadline from when you receive the invite.

I already took it. Honestly, it was easier than I expected because the questions aren't specific to your app. Just make sure you have anecdotes ready + a good setup/WiFi to record video.
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Thanks. Any advice on types of anecdotes to prepare?
 
youngking said:
Thanks. Any advice on types of anecdotes to prepare?
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Go through your activities list or resume and take note of stories you can tell. Ideally, you'll have one story for each competency (resiliency, teamwork, etc.) VITA also allows you to use hypothetical scenarios if you can't think of any on the spot, so there's that.

On my actual VITA, I think I only had 2 questions that actually required anecdotes.

I don't think they're trying to trip us up because the questions I had were broad/easy (easier than the practice VITA). Seems like another CASPer to see if we're actually human.
 
So if I didn't get VITA... Am I screwed? Are they sending out in waves today? Sad
 
thetenthletter said:
Go through your activities list or resume and take note of stories you can tell. Ideally, you'll have one story for each competency (resiliency, teamwork, etc.) VITA also allows you to use hypothetical scenarios if you can't think of any on the spot, so there's that.

On my actual VITA, I think I only had 2 questions that actually required anecdotes.

I don't think they're trying to trip us up because the questions I had were broad/easy (easier than the practice VITA). Seems like another CASPer to see if we're actually human.
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Any advice on making it feel more "human"? I have done the practice VITA a few times but i don't like my responses because they seem too rehearsed. As opposed to an actual 1on1 interview which is much more conversational and feels more real. I just can't seem to feel comfortable with this format
 
GameOfZones said:
Any advice on making it feel more "human"? I have done the practice VITA a few times but i don't like my responses because they seem too rehearsed. As opposed to an actual 1on1 interview which is much more conversational and feels more real. I just can't seem to feel comfortable with this format
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I just treated it like I was doing a YouTube VLOG or something, but kept it professional.

I watched some of my favorite YouTubers and tried to mimic how they spoke to their cameras, but in my own idiosyncratic (and professional) way.

It's going to be awkward for most people tbh.

Don't try and use "the right words." Don't rehearse an answer until it's "perfect." Don't use a script.
 
PoorProspects said:
If this helps anyone, I just listened to the "All Access: Med School Admissions" podcast hosted by one of the adcoms at Case Western. About two weeks ago, he interviewed the Dean of Admissions at Zucker, and she stated that they are "not using it (VITA) as a prescreen." Zucker is treating VITA like the "scenario rooms" one would encounter in their MMI, and they will be scoring VITA as such.
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Helpful to hear but also makes me even more nervous about not getting an invite :/
 
wolfram&hart said:
VITA people who haven't done it yet, when should we ideally be doing this by for Hofstra? I don't want to be late but I'm also pretty busy for the next week or so
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Do it when you’re ready. I already took it because I felt very ready for it, and by ready I meant my work was not bothering me and I foresee a lot of work soon. I jumped on it since my mental space was available for it. I also wanted to be considered for an interview asap. Definitely take the practice vita first, that’s how I prepared. The actual thing was way easier.
 
Howdy everybody, sorry to interrupt the virtual interview shenanigans. I am a current MS3 at ZSOM. Given how FUBAR'd the interview process is for you fine folks I just wanted to pop in and say that I'm happy to answer any questions you may have about the school, the admissions process, Long Island/New York, anything at all you want to pick my brain on. Feel free to PM me if you want to ask something privately.

Disclaimer: I am on rotations so it might take me a day or two to respond to everything, apologies in advance. I also am not too familiar with the whole virtual application process (what is this VITA you speak of?) so I may not be much help with logistical questions, but I'll do my best.

Best of luck to everyone, if you can make it through this disaster you can definitely handle anything med school will throw at you!
 
Microbe_Hunter said:
@Third_Spacing is there anyway you can find out if the VITA invite is a pre-II step and if they will eliminate applicants once reviewing their VITA??
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They just said that they did not know what VITA was. Are you really expecting them to email the dean of admissions just to answer your question?
 
Third_Spacing said:
Howdy everybody, sorry to interrupt the virtual interview shenanigans. I am a current MS3 at ZSOM. Given how FUBAR'd the interview process is for you fine folks I just wanted to pop in and say that I'm happy to answer any questions you may have about the school, the admissions process, Long Island/New York, anything at all you want to pick my brain on. Feel free to PM me if you want to ask something privately.

Disclaimer: I am on rotations so it might take me a day or two to respond to everything, apologies in advance. I also am not too familiar with the whole virtual application process (what is this VITA you speak of?) so I may not be much help with logistical questions, but I'll do my best.

Best of luck to everyone, if you can make it through this disaster you can definitely handle anything med school will throw at you!
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How do you like living in LI? Would you say you get an NYC-esque patient population or is it a bit less diverse?
 
Microbe_Hunter said:
@viralhiker it’s always worth a shot to ask. They said they’ll do their best to help and if they are involved in the admissions process it’s not unreasonable to assume they regularly speak with adcoms
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Nothing wrong with shooting your shot! To clarify, I am not directly involved with the admissions process (other than interviewing people occasionally and doing interview day lunches). I don't know a lot about VITA but based on how ZSOM adopted CASPER I would suggest that they are going to send it to everyone (or everyone they are planning on interviewing) but will not use the results to screen out people. Hofstra likes to use a round or two of admissions data before making choices with any new tool. That is only my semi-informed opinion, please do not read too much into it lol.
 
parametz said:
How do you like living in LI? Would you say you get an NYC-esque patient population or is it a bit less diverse?
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Great question! I'm not from NY so it took me a while during MS1 to get used to the area. Hofstra is in a pretty solid location, Hempstead is ok but there are a lot of good places nearby, and you're not too far from Manhattan if you want to go into the city. Every neighborhood is really different so it's usually easy to find some place you like. There's lots of stuff to do as well (food, parks, beaches). I ended up really liking it!

For your second question, Northwell (ZSOM's hospital network) has a ton of hospitals all throughout LI and NYC, so the patient population really depends on where you are. Our main teaching hospital is Long Island Jewish, which serves the Queens boro of NYC and thus sees a really diverse patient population with lots of rare pathology. But you can also rotate at Lennox Hill Hospital in Manhattan and get the whole "city hospital experience", or go way out to rural LI and rotate at Peconic Bay and spend all your time treating farming and fishing injuries. So the patient population depends on where you are, but by and large yes, you'll see a very similar patient population.
 
Third_Spacing said:
Great question! I'm not from NY so it took me a while during MS1 to get used to the area. Hofstra is in a pretty solid location, Hempstead is ok but there are a lot of good places nearby, and you're not too far from Manhattan if you want to go into the city. Every neighborhood is really different so it's usually easy to find some place you like. There's lots of stuff to do as well (food, parks, beaches). I ended up really liking it!

For your second question, Northwell (ZSOM's hospital network) has a ton of hospitals all throughout LI and NYC, so the patient population really depends on where you are. Our main teaching hospital is Long Island Jewish, which serves the Queens boro of NYC and thus sees a really diverse patient population with lots of rare pathology. But you can also rotate at Lennox Hill Hospital in Manhattan and get the whole "city hospital experience", or go way out to rural LI and rotate at Peconic Bay and spend all your time treating farming and fishing injuries. So the patient population depends on where you are, but by and large yes, you'll see a very similar patient population.
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Thank you for such a thorough reply. I really appreciate it 🙂
 
Has anyone who received a VITA invite and completed it heard anything back?
 
apoc117 said:
Hopefully so! It's a bit nerve-wracking to see the updates of II's and VITA invites already, but it's still only late August in the cycle so we have time.
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Ik but its hard to see IIs and not have even gotten the vita yet. Complete 8/2 with a 3.8/518
 
For those who received VITA invites, how long were you in the "in the review process" status on the portal?
 
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