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I got the first phase review complete email on 9/3. It says in that email to allow for 2-4 weeks for the process to be completed. It has been over 4 weeks at this point. Anyone else in a similar situtation?​

+1

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does anyone know when decisions are released following interviews?
 
does anyone know when decisions are released following interviews?
MSAR says they start at the end of October, but they didn't mention a timeline during the admissions day.
 
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To those that received the Preliminary Review email on 8/11 like I did and never heard anything, you may want to reach out. Take this with a grain of salt, but it had been silence since 8/11- I sent in an update this morning and got an "update received and uploaded" email directly followed by a "First Phase Review Complete" email. Just don't want anyone's application to fall through the cracks by accident... Good luck to all.
 
To those that received the Preliminary Review email on 8/11 like I did and never heard anything, you may want to reach out. Take this with a grain of salt, but it had been silence since 8/11- I sent in an update this morning and got an "update received and uploaded" email directly followed by a "First Phase Review Complete" email. Just don't want anyone's application to fall through the cracks by accident... Good luck to all.
Same exact thing happened to me!!
 
To those that received the Preliminary Review email on 8/11 like I did and never heard anything, you may want to reach out. Take this with a grain of salt, but it had been silence since 8/11- I sent in an update this morning and got an "update received and uploaded" email directly followed by a "First Phase Review Complete" email. Just don't want anyone's application to fall through the cracks by accident... Good luck to all.
Thank you for the tip! I just tried this and they immediately moved me to the first phase prelim compete. I received my prelim review email back on aug 19.
 
I've been prelim complete since 9/23 and haven't heard anything since. Anyone else?
 
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Has anyone reached out to admissions to check status? I don’t really have any updates and slightly worried that we’ve fallen through the cracks.
 
How did everyone upload their update? My collect documents tab will not allow me to upload anything, all the buttons are grey and won't allow me to click.
 
Just emailed them. Hopefully my app didn't slip through the cracks ):
 
To those that received the Preliminary Review email on 8/11 like I did and never heard anything, you may want to reach out. Take this with a grain of salt, but it had been silence since 8/11- I sent in an update this morning and got an "update received and uploaded" email directly followed by a "First Phase Review Complete" email. Just don't want anyone's application to fall through the cracks by accident... Good luck to all.
Sent an update around 4:50 EST today, maybe I need to wait until tomorrow to hear something because I sent it closer to the end of the business day
 
Sent an update around 4:50 EST today, maybe I need to wait until tomorrow to hear something because I sent it closer to the end of the business day
Just got confirmation that my update was added to my application and still no "review complete" email. So it really is taking them this long then, confirmed complete 8/30
 
I had two quick questions:

1.) Does HMSOM do open or closed file interviews?

2.) For those who sent application updates did you do this by email or the secondary portal?

Thank you !!
 
I had two quick questions:

1.) Does HMSOM do open or closed file interviews?

2.) For those who sent application updates did you do this by email or the secondary portal?

Thank you !!
Open file interview
 
Current MS4, happy to answer any questions about the school or the application process in general!
Hi! I just had a couple questions for you since you are at the end of your medical school journey (Congrats!!)
-What made you choose Hackensack over other schools?
-What type of support to you get for Step I/II preparation4
-Does Hackensack have a "home program" for certain residencies? I know you travel a good amount for rotations, but wasn't sure if any of those hospitals would be considered a home program. Have you found support for the specialty you are interest in applying in?
 
Hi all, my app is currently on hold pending a physician LOR. Unfortunately, I don't have a close relationship with any physician and don't think I can get a good letter if I were to ask for one from physicians I shadowed a while back before the pandemic. Is anyone else in this predicament or have any advice on what I can do? I would hate for my app to be dismissed just because of this. Thanks!!
 
Hi all, my app is currently on hold pending a physician LOR. Unfortunately, I don't have a close relationship with any physician and don't think I can get a good letter if I were to ask for one from physicians I shadowed a while back before the pandemic. Is anyone else in this predicament or have any advice on what I can do? I would hate for my app to be dismissed just because of this. Thanks!!
Unfortunately Hackensack requires a physician LOR to consider your app. I would recommend reaching out to one of the physicians you shadowed regardless of how long it has been if you want your app considered by Hackensack.
 
Hi all, my app is currently on hold pending a physician LOR. Unfortunately, I don't have a close relationship with any physician and don't think I can get a good letter if I were to ask for one from physicians I shadowed a while back before the pandemic. Is anyone else in this predicament or have any advice on what I can do? I would hate for my app to be dismissed just because of this. Thanks!!
I am in th same situation as you -- I emailed them a letter explaining my situation and asked if they can make an exception -- I would do the same --they worst they can say is a hard no
 
I am in th same situation as you -- I emailed them a letter explaining my situation and asked if they can make an exception -- I would do the same --they worst they can say is a hard no
Glad to know I'm not the only one! If they get back to you, please let me know. In the meantime, I'll try to email those physicians and see if they even remember me LOL
 
Re: [External] - First Phase Review Complete with update

Thank you for your interest in Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. As we continue to evaluate your application, we ask that you keep your contact information up to date via AAMC. If we require any additional information, we will contact you. Please allow 3-6 weeks for the next update. Thank you for your patience and best of luck.

Is this first phase review complete or are they just responding to my update?
 
Hi! I just had a couple questions for you since you are at the end of your medical school journey (Congrats!!)
-What made you choose Hackensack over other schools?
-What type of support to you get for Step I/II preparation4
-Does Hackensack have a "home program" for certain residencies? I know you travel a good amount for rotations, but wasn't sure if any of those hospitals would be considered a home program. Have you found support for the specialty you are interest in applying in?
1. The faculty seemed really invested and believed in the potential for the school on my interview day. I walked out with a better feeling about the culture than any of my other interviews. I was really sold by the 3 year program and wanted to get to residency in as little time with as little debt as possible (ended up realizing I didn't mind taking the extra time to find out what specialty was right for me, and am applying out of network).
2. There was more than enough dedicated study time for both Step 1 (8 weeks) and Step 2 (4 weeks). I preferred taking them after clinical rotations and think it benefited my scores, but others might prefer the other way for remembering the minutiae. End of the day, I don't think it makes too much of a difference to be honest. School provided USMLERx Q banks during preclinical and UWorld for Step 1.
3. Hackensack University Medical Center is the "flagship", but Jersey Shore University Medical Center has just as much clout. They split you into North and South locations for doing clinical rotations, so you are either at Hackensack primarily with an occasional rotation at Palisades/Mountainside/JFK or South at Jersey Shore with an occasional at Ocean/Raritan Bay.
4. I never really had close mentors until I came here. I feel like they are genuinely my friends, knew what I loved, and could write LoRs that weren't generic. I have had several people call PDs on my behalf and so far residency interviews are going really well for me. I have my fair share of options in a fairly competitive specialty.
 
Current MS4, happy to answer any questions about the school or the application process in general!
Do you feel like there is time to get involved with research early on given how condensed the phase 1 curriculum is?
 
1. The faculty seemed really invested and believed in the potential for the school on my interview day. I walked out with a better feeling about the culture than any of my other interviews. I was really sold by the 3 year program and wanted to get to residency in as little time with as little debt as possible (ended up realizing I didn't mind taking the extra time to find out what specialty was right for me, and am applying out of network).
2. There was more than enough dedicated study time for both Step 1 (8 weeks) and Step 2 (4 weeks). I preferred taking them after clinical rotations and think it benefited my scores, but others might prefer the other way for remembering the minutiae. End of the day, I don't think it makes too much of a difference to be honest. School provided USMLERx Q banks during preclinical and UWorld for Step 1.
3. Hackensack University Medical Center is the "flagship", but Jersey Shore University Medical Center has just as much clout. They split you into North and South locations for doing clinical rotations, so you are either at Hackensack primarily with an occasional rotation at Palisades/Mountainside/JFK or South at Jersey Shore with an occasional at Ocean/Raritan Bay.
4. I never really had close mentors until I came here. I feel like they are genuinely my friends, knew what I loved, and could write LoRs that weren't generic. I have had several people call PDs on my behalf and so far residency interviews are going really well for me. I have my fair share of options in a fairly competitive specialty.
Thank you so much for this information! One more question... With the 3+1 program, does that mean that the last phase can be all away rotations and research since it's more individualized and is whatever we make it (instead of matriculating into a residency program after 3 years)?
 
Do you feel like there is time to get involved with research early on given how condensed the phase 1 curriculum is?
I personally did not get involved until after preclinicals, but still ended up being far above average in terms of research involvement when applying to residency. It's not anymore time spent per day work wise than a standard medical school curriculum, but you do not have the summers off to do a project like the standard format. If you are doing the three year, you can get by without research because the program will know you better. If you are doing the 4th year, you have way more downtime (~9 months) to get involved in projects before ERAS than you would in a standard format (~2 months). Your ability to contribute to/lead meaningful projects as an MS4 vs an MS1 is massively different.
 
Thank you so much for this information! One more question... With the 3+1 program, does that mean that the last phase can be all away rotations and research since it's more individualized and is whatever we make it (instead of matriculating into a residency program after 3 years)?
Yes, away rotations are really expensive and have been limited to one per specialty nationally because of COVID, so most people either do an away, do full-time research, or do specialty electives in the HMH system. Once ERAS is submitted, MS4s usually try to relax as much as possible.
 
I personally did not get involved until after preclinicals, but still ended up being far above average in terms of research involvement when applying to residency. It's not anymore time spent per day work wise than a standard medical school curriculum, but you do not have the summers off to do a project like the standard format. If you are doing the three year, you can get by without research because the program will know you better. If you are doing the 4th year, you have way more downtime (~9 months) to get involved in projects before ERAS than you would in a standard format (~2 months). Your ability to contribute to/lead meaningful projects as an MS4 vs an MS1 is massively different.
Thank you! Best of luck with interviews!
 
Do you feel like there is time to get involved with research early on given how condensed the phase 1 curriculum is?
Yea there is definitely time to do research in phase 1. Once you figure out your studying routine you should be able to find time for research. I started middle of 1st year, some of my friends have been doing research even longer. MS2 here.
 
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