Des Moines University (DMU-COM) Discussion 2015 - 2016

Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
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tennerd said:
it does make it less negative.

i clarified that it was an extreme example to show how schools can manipulate board pass rates and match rates and, unfortunately, other readers here believe it applied to DMU - it doesn't; however, don't be naive in believing schools - MD or DO, prestigious or not prestigious - don't implement similar policies in such a way to boost their stats.

i'm not going to write rainbow and sunshine just because some admissions pamphlet/presentation told me how great the school is.
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You're entitled to your skepticism and it's important to look critically at the schools you're applying at. It's equally as important to trust that they don't need to lie to you to convince you to come here when they've got thousands of other applications to sift through and hundreds of people interviewing for a spot. Keep in mind there are anywhere from 3-8+ people (depending on school) interviewing for 1 seat. It's going to make your app cycle a lot easier if you lessen the cynicism a bit.
 
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For those accepted, how long are you given to submit your deposit?
 
are the year long rotations the most sought after here? are there any issues getting year long rotations?
 
takis said:
are the year long rotations the most sought after here? are there any issues getting year long rotations?
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The ones in Des Moines are in high demand and there is a lot of competition for spots, so a lot of people who want those will not be able to get them. I'm not as familiar with the yearlong sites in the rest of Iowa or in other states.
 
buttfrogs said:
The ones in Des Moines are in high demand and there is a lot of competition for spots, so a lot of people who want those will not be able to get them. I'm not as familiar with the yearlong sites in the rest of Iowa or in other states.
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how does one compete for a clinical spot here?
 
takis said:
how does one compete for a clinical spot here?
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In order:
1) Apply for a geographical exemption. If you have circumstances that you deem important for staying in the Des Moines area, this is the first thing to try.

2) Write a personal statement. You're allowed to write a PS for one site and try to make an impression on them. If I understand correctly, sites can pick up to half of their available spots through personal statements. If you get picked this way you don't have to enter the lottery. Also, if you get picked this way, you MUST go to that site. No doing deals with classmates after the lottery.

3) Enter the lottery, rank the Des Moines yearlong sites highly.

4) Pray to your deity of choice

5) ???

6) Profit
 
buttfrogs said:
In order:
1) Apply for a geographical exemption. If you have circumstances that you deem important for staying in the Des Moines area, this is the first thing to try.

2) Write a personal statement. You're allowed to write a PS for one site and try to make an impression on them. If I understand correctly, sites can pick up to half of their available spots through personal statements. If you get picked this way you don't have to enter the lottery. Also, if you get picked this way, you MUST go to that site. No doing deals with classmates after the lottery.

3) Enter the lottery, rank the Des Moines yearlong sites highly.

4) Pray to your deity of choice

5) ???

6) Profit
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are most students satisfied with this method? seems like everyone is going to write personal statements for yearlong and/or des moines sites. examples of "bad" sites?
 
takis said:
are most students satisfied with this method? seems like everyone is going to write personal statements for yearlong and/or des moines sites. examples of "bad" sites?
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I'm not really familiar enough with all the options to know which individual sites could be described as "bad". It's just that anything outside of Des Moines that is not a yearlong involves moving, potentially every couple months or so. The few people I've talked to who got the in-town yearlong sites didn't have a particular interest in them, they just really loved the convenience. I'm not sure if those people got in by personal statement or lottery.

It should also be noted that you have the freedom to completely plan out your entire 3rd and 4th years if you have the desire and connections to do so. I know a recent graduate who scheduled everything herself so she could be closer to her fiance who was a medical student in her home state.
 
i forgot to ask, can you more carefully define year long and non year long sites.

do you believe most students are satisfied with this system and the amount of relatively convenient sites (wrt non year long) available? are there limitations to planning where to go?

thanks
 
Those who were accepted.... how were you informed? Email or phone call?
 
can anyone here more clearly explain the curriculum here and how it is different? i heard "hybrid" once, but i'm not sure what that meant.
 
Submitted my supplemental a week ago too. Got completion this morning, hoping for a quick turnaround. Lack of emails is getting discomforting lol.
 
II today, app completed last week. Chose 9/17. Anyone else is interviewing on 9/17? Any suggestion for an affordable and close to school hotel?
 
takis said:
can anyone here more clearly explain the curriculum here and how it is different? i heard "hybrid" once, but i'm not sure what that meant.
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it is hybrid in a sense that the first year is all science (biochem, anatomy, physiology, etc.) and the second year is all systems/specialty based (neurology, GI, respiratory, etc.) there is some crossover obviously, but in a general sense, that is how the curriculum is laid out.
 
Anybody know when they accept each round of students? I'm interviewing soon and would like to know the time frame for my other interviews. This is my top DO school choice
 
II today, complete 9/1. Interviewing 9/25.
 
SCooFS said:
Anybody know when they accept each round of students? I'm interviewing soon and would like to know the time frame for my other interviews. This is my top DO school choice
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Its about a 2 week turn around. Seems like they go out on Thursdays or Fridays
 
Got my II yesterday! Signed up for the soonest date I could, 9/24.
OOS 3.67, 33 MCAT
 
a) I can't comment on changes as the word is the year behind us lost a few weeks of rotations, but that isn't from a reliable source. I can only speak on my experience. The rotations are a mixture. They have a bunch of different sites and each is different. I have friends that were in Mercy year long and Methodist year long that were ward based. I did non year long which was about half ward and half preceptor, but other NYLs had mostly wards, while others still had mostly preceptor. it really depends on your site. and they get new ones every year.

b) me, I had 4 weeks of elective in 3rd year with a couple selectives, but this is also variable. most had the same, but some year long sites have tracks that you are supposed to do, and you lose your elective rotation. basically, the Mercy surgery track loses the elective and gives you another month of surgery as an "audition." i have also heard that 3rd year is now 4 weeks shorter and they lose their elective. maybe a 3rd year can comment on that. but 4th year, i have to do 4 weeks of family med at any time, and 4 weeks of either family, community, rural, or international med at any time, and the rest of the entire 4th year is mine to do whatever I want. that's pretty awesome.
 
I have been completed since 8/5 and still have not heard anything... is anyone else in a similar situation?
 
Do people put on pre-interview hold usually get an interview later on? Or is it a polite rejection?
 
SuperSlim said:
too late to send primary to this school? how much is secondary?
LizzyM 71-74
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Not too late at all. I sent mine in this time last year (had to be verified too). I interviewed in early January after completing my secondary around early November.
 
II just barely this was exactly 60 days from me being complete.
 
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Mti43 said:
II just barely this was exactly 60 days from me being complete.
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Mind sharing stats? I'm waiting on an II as well, def not as long though.

Congrats though!
 
HSR said:
Mind sharing stats? I'm waiting on an II as well, def not as long though.

Congrats though!
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Thank you! 3.6/28 I pretty much counted them out I was surprised!
 
CLAF211 said:
Good to hear - I'm approaching that 60 day mark as well. Is there some language DMU has giving 60 days significance?
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Ya in the complete email it says your file will be under review for up to 60 days.
 
complete since 7/23 and silence. i'm coming up on those 60 days...
3.2/29 MCAT
 
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