2020-2021 Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MU-COM)

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Please tag a pre-medical moderator when the secondary prompt is posted.

Good luck to everyone applying!

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Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

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Secondary prompt:
1. Please explain any gaps in education or employment longer than holidays and semester breaks. (750 characters)
2. Indicate any changes or additions that have occurred since submitting your AACOMAS application. (Including, but not limited to, education, employment, extracurricular activities, research, military service, academic warnings, conduct violations, and/or convictions.) (75)
3. Please describe how the COVID - 19 pandemic has impacted your preparation for medical school and/or affected your qualifications (positively or negatively). (2000)
4. Do you have experience shadowing or working with a physician (DO or MD)? (750)
5. Indicate any changes or additions that have occurred since submitting your AACOMAS application. (Including, but not limited to, education, employment, extracurricular activities, research, military service, academic warnings, conduct violations, and/or convictions.) (1250)
6. Please indicate how you first learned about MU-COM, providing specific details where appropriate
7. Please describe how the COVID - 19 pandemic has impacted your preparation for medical school and/or affected your qualifications (positively or negatively). (2000)
8. Are you interested in practicing medicine in Indiana? (1250 Characters)
9. In which area of medicine are you most interested in practicing and why? 1250
10. Please comment on your experience working with and future desire to serve patients in a rural or medically underserved community. 1250
11. escribe your motivation for attending MU-COM. Please be specific. 1250
12. Please share any other relevant information that you would like the MU-COM Admissions Committee to know about you. 1250
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
All questions are character limits, not words!

1. Please explain any gaps in education or employment longer than holidays and semester breaks. (750 characters)
2. Indicate any changes or additions that have occurred since submitting your AACOMAS application. (Including, but not limited to, education, employment, extracurricular activities, research, military service, academic warnings, conduct violations, and/or convictions.) (75)
3. Please describe how the COVID - 19 pandemic has impacted your preparation for medical school and/or affected your qualifications (positively or negatively). (2000)
4. Do you have experience shadowing or working with a physician (DO or MD)? (750)
5. Indicate any changes or additions that have occurred since submitting your AACOMAS application. (Including, but not limited to, education, employment, extracurricular activities, research, military service, academic warnings, conduct violations, and/or convictions.) (1250)
6. Please indicate how you first learned about MU-COM, providing specific details where appropriate
7. Please describe how the COVID - 19 pandemic has impacted your preparation for medical school and/or affected your qualifications (positively or negatively). (2000)
8. Are you interested in practicing medicine in Indiana? (1250 Characters)
9. In which area of medicine are you most interested in practicing and why? 1250
10. Please comment on your experience working with and future desire to serve patients in a rural or medically underserved community. 1250
11. escribe your motivation for attending MU-COM. Please be specific. 1250
12. Please share any other relevant information that you would like the MU-COM Admissions Committee to know about you. 1250

@PapaGuava
 
mdclowncar said:
All questions are character limits, not words!

1. Please explain any gaps in education or employment longer than holidays and semester breaks. (750 characters)
2. Indicate any changes or additions that have occurred since submitting your AACOMAS application. (Including, but not limited to, education, employment, extracurricular activities, research, military service, academic warnings, conduct violations, and/or convictions.) (75)
3. Please describe how the COVID - 19 pandemic has impacted your preparation for medical school and/or affected your qualifications (positively or negatively). (2000)
4. Do you have experience shadowing or working with a physician (DO or MD)? (750)
5. Indicate any changes or additions that have occurred since submitting your AACOMAS application. (Including, but not limited to, education, employment, extracurricular activities, research, military service, academic warnings, conduct violations, and/or convictions.) (1250)
6. Please indicate how you first learned about MU-COM, providing specific details where appropriate
7. Please describe how the COVID - 19 pandemic has impacted your preparation for medical school and/or affected your qualifications (positively or negatively). (2000)
8. Are you interested in practicing medicine in Indiana? (1250 Characters)
9. In which area of medicine are you most interested in practicing and why? 1250
10. Please comment on your experience working with and future desire to serve patients in a rural or medically underserved community. 1250
11. escribe your motivation for attending MU-COM. Please be specific. 1250
12. Please share any other relevant information that you would like the MU-COM Admissions Committee to know about you. 1250

@PapaGuava
Click to expand...

how would the question about COVID be different than what we wrote in the primary? I am thinking about emailing them to ask
 
future_dr_j said:
how would the question about COVID be different than what we wrote in the primary? I am thinking about emailing them to ask
Click to expand...

Honestly, I just wrote a slightly condensed version of it.
I’m going to hope that the people that interview you look at secondaries instead your primary (or go in depth on your secondaries and glance at the primary) since I heard that happens with a lot of schools.
I could be very wrong though, so take it with a grain of salt!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Got an email saying that they are waiting on my MCAT (I take it July 18) to review my application. I thought DO schools were extending secondaries without needing an MCAT yet this cycle?
 
Just got a secondary here. Can someone tell me if this school is specialty friendly? I see they have strong connections to the hospitals and good rotations.
 
Jeanne d'Arc said:
Just got a secondary here. Can someone tell me if this school is specialty friendly? I see they have strong connections to the hospitals and good rotations.
Click to expand...
Although primary care comes up a number of times, they don't push it. They just want people to place at the end of the day. Now, the GME director doesn't have a problem hurting your feelings if you are aiming for plastics and your app won't cut it, but he is a nice guy and extremely helpful.

Overall, the clinical sites and rotations are pretty solid, especially for a DO school. However, there is a chance you can draw the short straw occasionally and get a crappy rotation.
 
I have heard that a lot of the rotations are in Gary Indiana, is that correct? Or where would you say a good portion of the rotation sites are usually located?
 
MU-COM is very responsive to questions or any concerns you may have throughout the application process, so don’t be afraid to contact them. I just wanted to throw it out there! I hope everyone is having a good start to their application cycle even though it is a busy time.
 
Rapsidy said:
I have heard that a lot of the rotations are in Gary Indiana, is that correct? Or where would you say a good portion of the rotation sites are usually located?
Click to expand...
No, most of the rotations are in Indianapolis. Most people do 2-3 rotations outside of Indianapolis, unless they choose to do more, and if it's more than 60 miles, I think, they provide you with housing.
 
I was just asking cause it would be nice to be able to do rotations closer to where I live currently. Thanks for the responses .
 
Rapsidy said:
I was just asking cause it would be nice to be able to do rotations closer to where I live currently. Thanks for the responses .
Click to expand...
You can work with the coordinators to try and set up rotations at a different hospital. We have had some do that in the past so that they could be closer to family. There have also been people who specifically requested all away rotations so they could get the school-provided housing and didn't have to pay for housing during the year.
 
I was wondering if it is possible to not send in premed committee letter and instead send in a science LOR. Does anyone think they know the answer to this? @MU COM perhaps.
 
Jeanne d'Arc said:
I was wondering if it is possible to not send in premed committee letter and instead send in a science LOR. Does anyone think they know the answer to this? @MU COM perhaps.
Click to expand...

from their website:
  • a recommendation form/letter from a pre-medical or pre-health committee or advisor*
*If an advisor or committee is not available, a letter from another science professor will be accepted as a substitute.
 
rachillthefout said:
from their website:
  • a recommendation form/letter from a pre-medical or pre-health committee or advisor*
*If an advisor or committee is not available, a letter from another science professor will be accepted as a substitute.
Click to expand...
Ok I was just wondering since it is possible I get one but it will not strengthen my application compared to a Science LOR, so I opted not to submit one.
 
They are planning to hold virtual interviews at least in the fall and they usually try to get back to students within the week after the interview + they hold all incomplete applications (even those who have an MCAT score but are waiting for a retake) -- they said they prefer to look at a complete application because they don't reevaluate after making a decision


I know this because I went to a virtual presentation of theirs 👍
 
These are my notes from the presentation regarding LOR:

LOR requirements:
  • Physician (DO & MD OK)
  • Pre-Medical/Pre-Health Committee
  • Science Professor -- biology, chemistry, physics (PI research letter counts - email to confirm)
** They will email if missing something
 
voppp said:
+1

Also, if I say I'm not interested in practicing in Indiana, am I gonna get auto rejected?
Click to expand...
I don't think you will get auto rejected, but they do look for people who want to stay in Indiana and surrounding areas. Keep in mind a lot of residency programs have regional bias when it comes to sending invites, unless you are at the top of the class, from a big name school, or have ties to the specific city/state.
 
diesel2202 said:
I don't think you will get auto rejected, but they do look for people who want to stay in Indiana and surrounding areas. Keep in mind a lot of residency programs have regional bias when it comes to sending invites, unless you are at the top of the class, from a big name school, or have ties to the specific city/state.
Click to expand...
Woof
 
How long does it take to receive notice after verification?
 
@MU COM is there an alternative LOR for those that weren't able to shadow? Would students who can't get a LOR from a physician need to wait until the next cycle (or possibly the one after depending on when shadowing is allowed again)?
 
Does anyone on here have any recommendations on what to do if our shadow experiences were canceled?
 
DRMR91 said:
Does anyone on here have any recommendations on what to do if our shadow experiences were canceled?
Click to expand...
Email them, they are very responsive. Should be an email link in the portal or the email that was sent out for the secondary application.
 
DRMR91 said:
@MU COM is there an alternative LOR for those that weren't able to shadow? Would students who can't get a LOR from a physician need to wait until the next cycle (or possibly the one after depending on when shadowing is allowed again)?
Click to expand...

From what I heard on their online presentation, they seem to be understanding and willing to work with students a lot of the time. It wouldn't hurt to email them and explain your situation
 
mdclowncar said:
All questions are character limits, not words!

1. Please explain any gaps in education or employment longer than holidays and semester breaks. (750 characters)
2. Indicate any changes or additions that have occurred since submitting your AACOMAS application. (Including, but not limited to, education, employment, extracurricular activities, research, military service, academic warnings, conduct violations, and/or convictions.) (75)
3. Please describe how the COVID - 19 pandemic has impacted your preparation for medical school and/or affected your qualifications (positively or negatively). (2000)
4. Do you have experience shadowing or working with a physician (DO or MD)? (750)
5. Indicate any changes or additions that have occurred since submitting your AACOMAS application. (Including, but not limited to, education, employment, extracurricular activities, research, military service, academic warnings, conduct violations, and/or convictions.) (1250)
6. Please indicate how you first learned about MU-COM, providing specific details where appropriate
7. Please describe how the COVID - 19 pandemic has impacted your preparation for medical school and/or affected your qualifications (positively or negatively). (2000)
8. Are you interested in practicing medicine in Indiana? (1250 Characters)
9. In which area of medicine are you most interested in practicing and why? 1250
10. Please comment on your experience working with and future desire to serve patients in a rural or medically underserved community. 1250
11. escribe your motivation for attending MU-COM. Please be specific. 1250
12. Please share any other relevant information that you would like the MU-COM Admissions Committee to know about you. 1250

@PapaGuava
Click to expand...


Hi. I'm pre-writing so could someone who has received the secondary help me out please?

Are questions 2 and 5 actually the exact same thing? If so, which is the correct character limit?... same thing with questions 3 and 7. and is 2000 the correct limit?

For question 4, are people elaborating on this or just stating where and when they shadowed/worked? I have a lot so wouldn't be able to fit detail into this space and I also already elaborated on primary so not sure how to go about this.

thanks in advance!
 
madamedoctor said:
Hi. I'm pre-writing so could someone who has received the secondary help me out please?

Are questions 2 and 5 actually the exact same thing? If so, which is the correct character limit?... same thing with questions 3 and 7. and is 2000 the correct limit?

For question 4, are people elaborating on this or just stating where and when they shadowed/worked? I have a lot so wouldn't be able to fit detail into this space and I also already elaborated on primary so not sure how to go about this.

thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
2 is not right: these questions are somehow duplicated in the thread and there is only one of these questions with a 1250 character limit. However, there is another question "If you are a reapplicant to Marian University, what was the outcome of that application? In addition, please detail the improvements you have made to your application. " that has a 750 character limit.
For 4, I would just list. The space is arguably tight.
 
Suzukaze said:
2 is not right: these questions are somehow duplicated in the thread and there is only one of these questions with a 1250 character limit. However, there is another question "If you are a reapplicant to Marian University, what was the outcome of that application? In addition, please detail the improvements you have made to your application. " that has a 750 character limit.
For 4, I would just list. The space is arguably tight.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much! 🙂
 
voppp said:
Great thanks PG! I just answered that I wanna do rural med and am not picky about where except that I’d rather it best west.
Click to expand...
Yeah I know those questions are tempting to think to yourself about changing your answer to appeal a certain way but I think as long as you're show your open to the idea even if you just mentioned rural medicine, it is perfectly fine.
 
Last edited:
PapaGuava said:
Yeah I know those questions are tempting to think to yourself about changing your answer to appeal a certain way but I think as long as you show your open to the idea even if you just mentioned rural medicine, it is perfectly fine.
Click to expand...
Lit thanks PG
 
DRMR91 said:
Does anyone on here have any recommendations on what to do if our shadow experiences were canceled?
Click to expand...
Did you end up emailing them and receive a response to this? I have the same question.
 
DrThanos said:
Did you end up emailing them and receive a response to this? I have the same question.
Click to expand...
I did email them, but I haven't received a response. Do you have any information or just the same question?
 
DRMR91 said:
I did email them, but I haven't received a response. Do you have any information or just the same question?
Click to expand...
My shadowing experience got cancelled, it was in the process of happening back in March and I just got word that it won't be happening at all now. I was hoping to get a LOR from the physician I was going to shadow. I'm not sure if Marian would accept a LOR from a physician that you didn't shadow under. I don't know what to do.
 
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