AZCOM Discussion Thread 2011-2012

[mariaozay]

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ACCEPPPTEEEDD!!! 😱 (interviewed 10.11)

 

[koala37]

I've talked about it a few times in this forum, but basically it's not the end of the world. That status is usually related to a gpa or MCAT issue, so if that happens to also be true in your case, just keep the school primarily posted with new grades and scores, but also feel free to keep them informed about research, publications, etc. The more proactive you are, the better your chances. At least one of the current MS1s who sometimes frequents the forums had that status at some point last cycle too, and it definitely worked out for them.

mine was an mcat issue. took it again and unfortunately i went down a point. 24 to a 23. gpa is 3.76, and sgpa is a 3.7. yeaaa just hoping for the best i guess. thanks

 

[randomusername]

mine was an mcat issue. took it again and unfortunately i went down a point. 24 to a 23. gpa is 3.76, and sgpa is a 3.7. yeaaa just hoping for the best i guess. thanks

Well, I suppose the ultimate good news is that you already have an acceptance in-hand regardless of whether the school decides to eventually invite you for an interview or not, and that's what this whole game's about anyway. 👍

 

[xajtx]

Random question, but are all of the lectures posted online for M1 and M2 year? And what is the school's attendance policy?

 

[goldendogmn]

SO is there suppose to be something under the Accepted Student Checklist or just the box on the left?

 

[stefspets]

It's really obvious when you are accepted. The accepted student checklist has things in it, like the deposit, and some other documents. Can't miss it.

 

[Kekeirda]

Random question, but are all of the lectures posted online for M1 and M2 year? And what is the school's attendance policy?

They told us during the interview day that lectures are not posted online. However, I'm not sure about the attendance policy thing?

 

[abc8899]

SOOO excited!! Got a phone call tonight- def read my portal right!!!

 

[whyrishiwhynot]

Accepted! Interviewed 10/11

 

[randomusername]

Random question, but are all of the lectures posted online for M1 and M2 year? And what is the school's attendance policy?

The actual slide presentations are all posted online (as well as additional material like outlines or lecture notes), they should start recording and posting clinical lectures soon, and the student council has finally pressed the administration enough that they are presently working on an agreement to send to the basic science departments to try and work out an agreement to record and post their lectures as well.

Most courses do not have mandatory attendance. Exceptions are labs, MS2 ICM (clinical med) lectures and PCE (patient care experience) meetings, and the MS1 medical jurisprudence course. Also, during MS1 the human behavior course gives you bonus points for lecture attendance and the biochem department has recently started offering to include bonus questions on exams if class attendance is consistently 70% or better in lectures.

 

[JeetKuneDo]

Ah, I see. Thanks for this info. Do you happen to have any idea of how easy or difficult it is to get the dean's approval?

Not a clue.

Just wanted to follow up on this in case anyone else is wondering. I talked to Dean of academic affairs and he said that it's fairly easy to get the full 16 weeks of electives in one specialty so long as the rest of the 4th year is well balanced.

 

[Kliffmeister]

Hey, congrats to all who were accepted.
I was so happy when all my files went through and received the interview invite yesterday. However, it seems like the interview won't be till Feb. I guess all their slots are full for this year.
What are the chances of being accepted with such a late interview? I would assume ~95% of seats will be filled by then.

 

[IDFsoldierboy]

Hey, congrats to all who were accepted.
I was so happy when all my files went through and received the interview invite yesterday. However, it seems like the interview won't be till Feb. I guess all their slots are full for this year.
What are the chances of being accepted with such a late interview? I would assume ~95% of seats will be filled by then.

while i cant tell you about the chances but if you click reschedule itll show you any available dates and with people getting acceptances elsewhere you never know when an earlier spot might become available so definitely check it often

 

[randomusername]

Hey, congrats to all who were accepted.
I was so happy when all my files went through and received the interview invite yesterday. However, it seems like the interview won't be till Feb. I guess all their slots are full for this year.
What are the chances of being accepted with such a late interview? I would assume ~95% of seats will be filled by then.

February isn't late for AZCOM and 95% of the class definitely won't be filled by then.

while i cant tell you about the chances but if you click reschedule itll show you any available dates and with people getting acceptances elsewhere you never know when an earlier spot might become available so definitely check it often

Do this habitually. Dates open up all the time as people change to different dates or cancel their interviews.

 

[Dark Knight87]

Accepted!! (10-13 interview)!

 

[jflash]

Accepted!! (10-13 interview)!

nice dude. I had a 10-13 interview as well but i still have seen nothing... Hopefully I will see tomorrow

 

[WaterDragon]

while i cant tell you about the chances but if you click reschedule itll show you any available dates and with people getting acceptances elsewhere you never know when an earlier spot might become available so definitely check it often

I will definitely check it often hoping that I can grab an earlier date...Right now, I am scheduled for Feb.17th which seems late.

 

[Vishna]

Accepted 🙂 Interviewed 10/10...now to decide between AZCOM, NSU, and DMU =/

 

[MS2021]

Does anyone know how exactly the rotation assignments work? Do we at least have a choice on WHERE we rotate? Is it first come first serve? Or is it all purely random? I know earlier someone mentioned something about some rotation forms, lol I don't see any of those in my portal

 

[randomusername]

Does anyone know how exactly the rotation assignments work? Do we at least have a choice on WHERE we rotate? Is it first come first serve? Or is it all purely random? I know earlier someone mentioned something about some rotation forms, lol I don't see any of those in my portal

The form comes in your packet, not on the portal. You should be able to rank your top 3 rotation region preferences, and yes, the school does it on a first come first serve basis. If you matriculate, you'll then eventually do a "track spin" to determine the order in which you do your specific rotations, and then eventually you'll do a preceptor lottery.

 

[xajtx]

The form comes in your packet, not on the portal. You should be able to rank your top 3 rotation region preferences, and yes, the school does it on a first come first serve basis. If you matriculate, you'll then eventually do a "track spin" to determine the order in which you do your specific rotations, and then eventually you'll do a preceptor lottery.

About the preceptor lottery, does that mean that we won't be able to choose our preceptor? Also, how much time does AZCOM give to study for boards? Thanks!

 

[randomusername]

About the preceptor lottery, does that mean that we won't be able to choose our preceptor? Also, how much time does AZCOM give to study for boards? Thanks!

Well, if you get the preceptor you wanted you got to choose them.
But yeah, I'm guessing there's a good chance you won't be getting your top-choice preceptor for certain rotations and that you will be getting them for others. Flushot can provide better input on this because they've gone through everything so far and my class has only progressed through the track spin, which we should be hearing back about this week...allegedly.

Spring quarter of MS2 there's a reduced course-load (you go from having ~23 hours/term to 18 hours that term, which is a pretty significant drop) to help give you more time to dedicate to boards, one of your spring courses is a "review course" the school throws together, then class ends by mid-May and you don't start rotations until the first week of July, so how much dedicated studying time you have boils down to when you're taking the exam(s) once MS2 spring term ends.

 

[Spatula]

Have any of you current students heard anything positive/negative about the Chicago rotation site? I'm from the Midwest so that's my first instinct but if it's a weird situation I'd go elsewhere.

 

[Spatula]

Do you mean the Champagne IL site? My rotation packet still has the IL site as Champagne even though someone mentioned that they might switch it to Chicago, either way I'm interested in knowing more about the IL sites as well.

Maybe, I don't have a packet yet but I could have sworn that the PowerPoint at the interview said Chicago.

 

[IDFsoldierboy]

Maybe, I don't have a packet yet but I could have sworn that the PowerPoint at the interview said Chicago.

i remember him saying chicago too...i wonder if they are some shared sites with CCOM though I also remember him saying that if you want to rotate in chicago your at the wrong school lol...guess ill wait for the packet

 

[randomusername]

Have any of you current students heard anything positive/negative about the Chicago rotation site? I'm from the Midwest so that's my first instinct but if it's a weird situation I'd go elsewhere.

As far as I know, this is the first time that AZCOM has had a Chicago rotation so there's been no feedback.

Do you mean the Champagne IL site? My rotation packet still has the IL site as Champagne even though someone mentioned that they might switch it to Chicago, either way I'm interested in knowing more about the IL sites as well.

They've nixed that site for Chicago. As far as if some of the rotations are also CCOM rotations, not a clue.

 

[Spatula]

At risk of exposing my ignorance, am I over thinking the importance of the 3rd year rotation sites since we can use 4th year electives to make up for any deficits or poor experiences?

 

[randomusername]

At risk of exposing my ignorance, am I over thinking the importance of the 3rd year rotation sites since we can use 4th year electives to make up for any deficits or poor experiences?

As far as the quality of your education goes, it will ~ be the same regardless of which region you're in. From what we've been told repeatedly, a lot of the quality depends on a combination of your preceptor and you. The school tries to deal with/remove poor preceptors but a bad one can slip through the cracks. As far as the "you" component, if you're passive and waiting to be told to do things, your educational experience will be a lot different than if you find things to do and/or ask/volunteer to do things and take initiative. Also, everybody has to do the same rotations during MS3 so it's not like the people in LA will be getting to do nothing but excellent rotations in awesome fields and the people in Tucson will be spending half their time washing the doc's car.

If you're having trouble figuring out which region to go to, the only sound advice anybody that visits the forums can give you is to choose somewhere you want to live and to take into consideration that California sites are going to have significantly higher living expenses than any of the other regions.

 

[Juice9]

Has anybody heard back after submitting their rotation site preferences? Mine was submitted about a week ago

 

[samiam87]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the maximum cost of attendance? I've seen the numbers that they provide for the First-Year AZCOM Budget, but does that mean that the maximum amount that you can take out in loans is reduced if you live with your parents or on campus?

Also, if you live in on campus housing, can you opt to keep living there during 3rd and 4th year rotations if you choose west valley?

 

[Flushot]

Also, if you live in on campus housing, can you opt to keep living there during 3rd and 4th year rotations if you choose west valley?

Yes, you can live on campus 3rd and 4th year.

 

[randomusername]

weird, the packet I got a few weeks ago still says Champagne

As far as I'm aware, this was a "definite" change within the past week or so.

 

[ksmajmudar]

As far as I'm aware, this was a "definite" change within the past week or so.

This is true, they told us this on interview date on 10/17.

 

[WaterDragon]

I felt so good when I grabbed an earlier interview date while I was randomly clicking "Rescheduling" button 😛

 

[DrWily]

I felt so good when I grabbed an earlier interview date while I was randomly clicking "Rescheduling" button 😛

I had an Oct 17th interview, and I was still trying to reschedule for sooner 😉 10/13 popped up a few times, but I had already made my reservation and 4 days wasn't going to make a big difference though.

Still, seeing that earlier date, I'd always jump! 👍

 

[randomusername]

awesome! Thanks for posting so much info by the way! AZCOM should start paying you as an SDN ambassador 😀 , you are probably helping them avoid a million phone calls.

I'm lobbying for it, Lord knows I could use the ECs. haha

 

[jflash]

Anyone out there who had an october 13 interview get any messages yet. I haunt. Hope that doesn't mea anything bad. I thought we were supposed to hear back yet.

 

[samiam87]

Anyone out there who had an october 13 interview get any messages yet. I haunt. Hope that doesn't mea anything bad. I thought we were supposed to hear back yet.

I checked on Monday and had an acceptance, and they did say we were supposed to hear back by Friday.

 

[DrWily]

Anyone out there who had an october 13 interview get any messages yet. I haunt. Hope that doesn't mea anything bad. I thought we were supposed to hear back yet.

I don't mean to be a downer, but they did meet on Oct 17th. If you haven't gotten the accepted student checklist by now, it most likely means you have been waitlisted. The admissions lady did say they go into the waitlist every year, 50-70 people deep is normal.

Keep your hopes up.

 

[jflash]

I don't mean to be a downer, but they did meet on Oct 17th. If you haven't gotten the accepted student checklist by now, it most likely means you have been waitlisted. The admissions lady did say they
go into the waitlist every year, 50-70 people deep is normal.

Keep your hopes up.

Can you give me a time frame of when they might go and look at the waitlist or how often I should check the portal

 

[DrWily]

Can you give me a time frame of when they might go and look at the waitlist or how often I should check the portal

I couldn't tell you that. If I had to guess, it wouldn't be until April or so once they stop interviewing, and people start dropping acceptances.

However, I DO want to say that someone on here got skipped over on accident or something when the AdComm met and he was notified at a later date of his acceptance. Maybe you could try calling? Couldn't hurt.

 

[voisinator]

Anyone considering canceling an interview before Dec 2? You would be my hero if you shot me an email at [email protected]

 

[voisinator]

Also, You guys that have seen Oct dates, etc come up what time of day did you usually check? Not that it really makes any difference I'm just trying to move up from Dec 2 if I can. Thanks guys

 

[randomusername]

Also, You guys that have seen Oct dates, etc come up what time of day did you usually check? Not that it really makes any difference I'm just trying to move up from Dec 2 if I can. Thanks guys

It's not so much about what time of day you check as it is how frequent you check it because the system seems to update open interview dates fairly regularly.

 

[drgioiadds]

Also, You guys that have seen Oct dates, etc come up what time of day did you usually check? Not that it really makes any difference I'm just trying to move up from Dec 2 if I can. Thanks guys

This is a good idea. I saw that someone was wanting to move up from Jan so I emailed them when I withdrew from an Oct 10 interview. It worked out for them with an acceptance.👍

 

[Kliffmeister]

Yes yes....if someone could let me take their interview date, i would give you a BIG hug haha.
I am currently interviewing on Jan 19th. Would be awesome if I can find a spot before next year!

Private me if you are willing to let me have your interview date!

Thanks a bunch everyone!

 

[akdas988]

Same here if you have a spot and are withdrawing please let me know since I am scheduled on feb 20 and would love to interview earlier since azcom is in my top two. thanks.

 

[ry215]

I called AZCOM today to follow up on my application and I was told that I am on a waitlist for an interview.What does this mean regarding my chances? I have never heared of a waitlist for an interview.

 

[DrWily]

I called AZCOM today to follow up on my application and I was told that I am on a waitlist for an interview.What does this mean regarding my chances? I have never heared of a waitlist for an interview.

Pretty much it means that you're qualified enough to get an interview, but they're going to wait on you until they see what the rest of the applicant pool looks like. It's not a bad thing, it's just not a good thing either. Send them updates on what you're doing (if anything new) known as an Update Letter or a Letter of Interest. This can spark them to relook at your application as it shows you're motivated to get an acceptance there rather than just passively sitting by.

 

[randomusername]

I called AZCOM today to follow up on my application and I was told that I am on a waitlist for an interview.What does this mean regarding my chances? I have never heared of a waitlist for an interview.

Pretty much it means that you're qualified enough to get an interview, but they're going to wait on you until they see what the rest of the applicant pool looks like. It's not a bad thing, it's just not a good thing either. Send them updates on what you're doing (if anything new) known as an Update Letter or a Letter of Interest. This can spark them to relook at your application as it shows you're motivated to get an acceptance there rather than just passively sitting by.

For the most part this is true and sound advice from DrWily. I do want to point out that this status likely means either your GPA or MCAT is too low, but the rest of your application looks good. To increase your chances of getting off of this list and offered an interview, you need to improve in whichever of those two areas you know could potentially be holding you back and making sure to keep the school primarily informed of that sort of information. Anything short of a Nobel prize that isn't a numbers-update likely won't do too much for your cause but an improved MCAT or GPA update can do wonders.