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Lol yeah. And when they responded to the thank you email I almost jumped out of my seat
Des Moines University (DMU-COM) Discussion Thread 2013 - 2014
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Lol yeah. And when they responded to the thank you email I almost jumped out of my seat
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Wow I wonder if those who got ii really had to wait 60 days...its only been 2 weeks for me..and I already hate the wait.
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I would argue that 2-3 weeks is the fastest turn around by any school standards. Usually, most people have to wait MONTHS to get a decision at other schools (no, I am not going to debate and pin-point the avg wait time for each school, but, trust me when I say that DMU is FAST). So, consider yourselves lucky and stop with the unprecedented level of neuroticism. Be happy that you interviewed and I am sure most of you will hear good news! In the meantime, enjoy yourselves.
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yes there were those who interviewed after 60 grueling days of waiting, as I mentioned above. But, in the meantime, try not to rub in your 2 week turnaround time in the face of those on this site who are clearly distressed and nearing the 60 day period...it's tacky...and not a good way to make a first impression...you wouldn't want the same happening to you if you were in their shoes...
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I don't believe he received an ii yet. More that he was simply stating that he's been complete for two weeks now and is still waiting for the ii. But I agree, it would be VERY tacky to rub it in.
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Oh, thank you notes!! I need to get those out....my brain is fried.
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Yeah, its
Individual in the sense that your the only candidate interviewed at a time, group in that your sitting in front of a panel of interviewers (two professors and a student)
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Exactly. You are not interviewed in a group with the rest of the candidates. I think LeCom interviews you in groups with other candidates
Yeah I was. I know thats what they say but one of the persons interviewing me told me I should hear back within a few days, and that is killing me now haha. On the other side I have a deposit needed to be sent out, just in case, and well I dont feel like dropping that cash for "charity"
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Yeah I was. I know thats what they say but one of the persons interviewing me told me I should hear back within a few days, and that is killing me now haha. On the other side I have a deposit needed to be sent out, just in case, and well I dont feel like dropping that cash for "charity"
Really?! Maybe they really liked you! =)
Thats what I thought when I heard it, but then what if they tell everyone that haha. I wish I knew someone that had my group to see if they got that special message too
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I was told that the old dean left to go tot a new DO school and then "stole" the faculty to go with him to that other school. But that's all I know about it.
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The student who told me didn't say which school....should have asked while he was talking about it.
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Hmmmmmmmmmm, did he say what percentage of the faculty?
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This has to be at least a little bit of a concern doesn't it?
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Maybe...maybe not. Those faculty may have left with the promise of a chair position they would not have gotten at DMU....I don't know what faculty left or how many. One other interviewee asked the student about it and then the student said what he said about the previous dean taking faculty with him to the new school and that the new dean is awesome and he is actually glad there is a new dean.
It could be a concern if the faculty are not replaced quickly and there is a staff shortage but it didn't seem to concern the students we were with on interview day....but who knows really what is happening administratively. Students don't ever really know the whole story, do they?.....
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definitely not what happened.
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Are any of you students going to be at the Sept 27th interview? I know first years have a big biochem exam that day
Yep I'll be there! I wish I could have done a drive by the school, but no car. I walked to a subway a mile away to get some food lol. The weather is quite nice out today; however, I've read it is suppose to be cloudy with chance of rain tomorrow. If anyone else is interviewing we should gather to form the SDN group and socialize.
I'm at the Baymont Inn, I didnt rent a car as well so i had to take a taxi (its quite expensive, i would rent a car in the future).
You're telling me! I'm at the Days Inn. My 1 mile taxi cost $8
17$ here, If you scheduled a pick up for tomorrow make sure to request a non chain smoker for a driver. I had that problem today >.>
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After I posted, tonight when I got home from work (just now) I googled things and yah....I have no idea where that student got his intel.....I am sorry I retold unconfirmed information.....lesson learned on that one. Ggrr. Slightly annoyed now that he even told us that.
The previous dean was one of my interviewers....(which I was unaware of until I did my google tonight)....
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there is a lot that happened. first off, the president got re-elected governor and they brought in a new president. typically when that happens there is a complete overhaul of administration (which there wasn't). there could be some of that. as a student, i don't know nor do i care what happened on that level, but the dean that was the dean from 2003 is now teaching as a tenured professor, the acting dean from last year is back to associate dean, and the new dean is awesome. faculty have their own reasons for leaving and again, as a student, i have too much in my own life to care what their reasons are. i am sure some left for bad reasons and some left for good reasons. you couple that with the fact that 3 new schools opened up and were offering great professors positions that they couldn't pass up, there were going to be a number of professors leaving. happened at other schools as well.
if people want to know more, they can look further into themselves because i haven't devoted any thought to who was leaving and why this year. i have had a couple of the new professors and they seem to be an awesome change.
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Great. Thanks for the perspective. I just wanted to ensure that all the great things about DMU weren't going to be lost in the changes.
Congrats on the MCAT! Our stats are similar and I am interviewing tomorrow at DMU, so don't give up!
No email, just in person. Sorry for the confusion
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placed on hold. would love to get an ii here down the line!
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Secondary submitted! Apologies if this has been asked already, but how long will it take them to see my new MCAT score? Would it be better to call them and let them know?
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Always awesome to see you guys interviewing. Good luck today!
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I was there the 13'th too, I had the panel with the plastic surgeon. They weren't specific but said it would be a couple of weeks (same as the admissions officers). I didn't ask them when I would find out though they just mentioned it at the end. Would love to find out sooner though I'm not going to get my hopes up...
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I agree with Lys, it was nice to see you guys interviewing today! Hopefully your day went well and your interview was stress free. I know one of the guys who took yal on the tour, hoping you enjoyed his company and you all enjoyed lunch.
I know there have been questions raised about the new dean and some faculty leaving? As a first year student, I can tell you that our current dean is absolutely AMAZING. The guy has a background in EM, NASA, and recently worked for the department of homeland security. He genuinely wants to get to know the students. There was an email a week ago sent to the entire student body for people who wanted to sit down and have lunch with him INDIVIDUALLY. Yeah, spots were limited, but the guy is going out of his way to make himself available and get to know the student better. The same goes for our president Dr. Franklin, who is also as equally devoted to the student body here at DMU and she recently had a fireside chat to address and questions/concerns/suggestions from students.
As far as the faculty leaving...I agree with FrkyBgStok that there could be a number of reasons why some faculty left (some good, some bad). But I can tell you that most of the professors that I have had this year are the same as those who taught the current second years. If new schools opened and they were offered better positions and possibly a greater financial incentive, then yes, I would venture that some may have left for that reason. But honestly, are the number of faculty members that left a particular year really what you want to basing your medical school choice on? You can factor it in, but I wouldn't focus solely on that. Would you prefer a new school, with new faculty, a new curriculum, and a new reputation or would you prefer a more established school that has most things in place? I preferred the latter, which is why I chose DMU. I think the chart they give you during interviews regarding COMLEX and USMLE scores here vs the other DO schools also helps convey this point.
Our modified curriculum has been nice so far. Anatomy is yearlong (as opposed to traditionally being only being 1 semester) which makes it easier to juggle anatomy with biochemistry, and when cell bio/histology starts, biochem will be over so it makes learning everything that much more manageable. I personally enjoy the extra time alloted to anatomy, because by stretching the course out, it allows us to go back and lspend more time looking at the various structures. It also allows for more time to go into dissection lab on our own time, since some weeks when we are being bombarded with biochem, we only have 1-2 anatomy lectures which allows for more time to focus on 1-2 lectures of anatomy
I will also say this about about the biochemistry department....it is probably the most well organized and well run course in the entire first 2 years (im sure this sounds premature since I've been in school for roughly 2 months--but most of the second years I think would agree with me). They give you a packet with everything you need to know--its essentially your med school biochemistry textbook in a packet form, and their lectures and slides go exactly off of what is in the packet, which makes learning this incredibly dense, information packed course A LOT more manageable. The course is run by Dr. Wilson, Dr. Schmidt, and Dr. Mueller.
I know there have been questions raised about the new dean and some faculty leaving? As a first year student, I can tell you that our current dean is absolutely AMAZING. The guy has a background in EM, NASA, and recently worked for the department of homeland security. He genuinely wants to get to know the students. There was an email a week ago sent to the entire student body for people who wanted to sit down and have lunch with him INDIVIDUALLY. Yeah, spots were limited, but the guy is going out of his way to make himself available and get to know the student better. The same goes for our president Dr. Franklin, who is also as equally devoted to the student body here at DMU and she recently had a fireside chat to address and questions/concerns/suggestions from students.
As far as the faculty leaving...I agree with FrkyBgStok that there could be a number of reasons why some faculty left (some good, some bad). But I can tell you that most of the professors that I have had this year are the same as those who taught the current second years. If new schools opened and they were offered better positions and possibly a greater financial incentive, then yes, I would venture that some may have left for that reason. But honestly, are the number of faculty members that left a particular year really what you want to basing your medical school choice on? You can factor it in, but I wouldn't focus solely on that. Would you prefer a new school, with new faculty, a new curriculum, and a new reputation or would you prefer a more established school that has most things in place? I preferred the latter, which is why I chose DMU. I think the chart they give you during interviews regarding COMLEX and USMLE scores here vs the other DO schools also helps convey this point.
Our modified curriculum has been nice so far. Anatomy is yearlong (as opposed to traditionally being only being 1 semester) which makes it easier to juggle anatomy with biochemistry, and when cell bio/histology starts, biochem will be over so it makes learning everything that much more manageable. I personally enjoy the extra time alloted to anatomy, because by stretching the course out, it allows us to go back and lspend more time looking at the various structures. It also allows for more time to go into dissection lab on our own time, since some weeks when we are being bombarded with biochem, we only have 1-2 anatomy lectures which allows for more time to focus on 1-2 lectures of anatomy
I will also say this about about the biochemistry department....it is probably the most well organized and well run course in the entire first 2 years (im sure this sounds premature since I've been in school for roughly 2 months--but most of the second years I think would agree with me). They give you a packet with everything you need to know--its essentially your med school biochemistry textbook in a packet form, and their lectures and slides go exactly off of what is in the packet, which makes learning this incredibly dense, information packed course A LOT more manageable. The course is run by Dr. Wilson, Dr. Schmidt, and Dr. Mueller.
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I got an email about the hold status like iowamedic. Hold status email was received on 9/13 and I was complete 8/21. My stats are cgpa 3.59 sgpa 3.52 MCAT 31. I did lots of ECs, shadowing, research, and I have one publication. I'm not sure what they didn't like about my application :/. Anyways, good luck to all of us still in the process! Whether we are waiting for an interview or waiting to hear back from the interview
Today's interview was a great experience. For those who will have this as a first interview it's a great ice breaker. Here is a little background:
The actual interview
They don't pressure you, there are no hypotheticals, and they don't interrogate you. It is a panel of four just trying to match a face to an application. If you have any inconsistencies like low mcat, no ECs, bad grades, etc. they will ask you in a very non threatening way. They just what to hear how you have improved because you've made it to the interview part they won't consider that in your decision to be accepted because that what the interview selection was for. My interview last one hour; however, I think it was only suppose to be about 30 mins. Just find things you have in common with the interviewers and laugh. When there was a moment of silence I just said a movie that I like, which was about healthcare so not off topic, and how that has influenced a my conception today and what it will be in the future.
Dos: keep the conversation going, reflect yourself in a positive light, refer to examples in your experience to answer questions on every question, ask questions (at least 3 and something you can't find online)!
Donts: give one sentence answers, say something bad about yourself that will question how you will perform, be afraid
The school
By far DMU is the nice school I have ever seen. Ok, when these people say state of the art they are underselling it. These facilities are beyond compare. The surgical skills lab alone sells the school. At most schools you rarely see students congregating and socializing like they try to convey in their brochures, but it was the main focal point at DMU. We came down to lunch and the cafeteria was flooded with students from all the 9 programs just enjoying each others company. Overall, you get what you pay for at DMU, and I fell if I don't get in here I will be devastated because it is now my number one choice. I have an interview at KCUMB next week, so they will have to pull out the big guns to beat out DMU.
Administration changes
The new dean is one of the most amazing human beings I have ever had the pleasure of setting in the same room with. When he came in the room after Dr. mueller I was really surprised because you don't usually get that sort of face time with the dean. This guy was chief flight officer for emergency medicine, chief medical advisor for NASA, help lead the rescue of the Chileans when they were stuck in the mine, and I believe it was assistant Secretary of State or some high ranking title where he met with the president regularly. Overall, if I had to describe DMU it would be forward momentum. They are looking to the future, very adaptable to change, and highly value their students. The teachers their emphasized how they are they to teach. DO schools aren't big in research, so the teachers are completely available to the students. Damn listen to me I sound like an infomercial, it's just that great!
Dislikes
-the class number sizes. The majority of our first year is spent a large lecture hall with other programs, which makes up the large amount of people going to a class.
-they didn't allow us to go into the anatomy lab because they didn't want us to see bodies.
-two of my fellow interviewees took the last chocolate chip cookies, which apparently another selling point at the school lol.
Please post or pm me any question you have about the interview and I will be as candid as possible.
The actual interview
They don't pressure you, there are no hypotheticals, and they don't interrogate you. It is a panel of four just trying to match a face to an application. If you have any inconsistencies like low mcat, no ECs, bad grades, etc. they will ask you in a very non threatening way. They just what to hear how you have improved because you've made it to the interview part they won't consider that in your decision to be accepted because that what the interview selection was for. My interview last one hour; however, I think it was only suppose to be about 30 mins. Just find things you have in common with the interviewers and laugh. When there was a moment of silence I just said a movie that I like, which was about healthcare so not off topic, and how that has influenced a my conception today and what it will be in the future.
Dos: keep the conversation going, reflect yourself in a positive light, refer to examples in your experience to answer questions on every question, ask questions (at least 3 and something you can't find online)!
Donts: give one sentence answers, say something bad about yourself that will question how you will perform, be afraid
The school
By far DMU is the nice school I have ever seen. Ok, when these people say state of the art they are underselling it. These facilities are beyond compare. The surgical skills lab alone sells the school. At most schools you rarely see students congregating and socializing like they try to convey in their brochures, but it was the main focal point at DMU. We came down to lunch and the cafeteria was flooded with students from all the 9 programs just enjoying each others company. Overall, you get what you pay for at DMU, and I fell if I don't get in here I will be devastated because it is now my number one choice. I have an interview at KCUMB next week, so they will have to pull out the big guns to beat out DMU.
Administration changes
The new dean is one of the most amazing human beings I have ever had the pleasure of setting in the same room with. When he came in the room after Dr. mueller I was really surprised because you don't usually get that sort of face time with the dean. This guy was chief flight officer for emergency medicine, chief medical advisor for NASA, help lead the rescue of the Chileans when they were stuck in the mine, and I believe it was assistant Secretary of State or some high ranking title where he met with the president regularly. Overall, if I had to describe DMU it would be forward momentum. They are looking to the future, very adaptable to change, and highly value their students. The teachers their emphasized how they are they to teach. DO schools aren't big in research, so the teachers are completely available to the students. Damn listen to me I sound like an infomercial, it's just that great!
Dislikes
-the class number sizes. The majority of our first year is spent a large lecture hall with other programs, which makes up the large amount of people going to a class.
-they didn't allow us to go into the anatomy lab because they didn't want us to see bodies.
-two of my fellow interviewees took the last chocolate chip cookies, which apparently another selling point at the school lol.
Please post or pm me any question you have about the interview and I will be as candid as possible.
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I kinda got the vibe from reading all that is they just want to make sure you're a normal human being.
Sometimes an interview can show you things you wouldn't discover on paper.
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Thank you, bhandal. Great feedback. Even more excited for Monday now.
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They're interested in the paper version of you already. Let them get to know the human you. All of the typical things you should already have done to prepare should make you more than prepared. Answer the questions intelligently, don't be a douche, and I'm sure you stand a great chance. Try not to worry too much, guys. I was too exhausted to be neurotic on my interview day, and I believe that (lack of neurotic mindset) worked in my favor. G'luck!
The interview is a big part of the selection factor. They want to see if you fit their student body, and that is beyond your grades and mcat score. They emphasize how those stats are just there to get you an interview, now it's time to woo them with your personality.
As far as questions I had the following:
-why osteopathy
-why did you do poorly at the beginning of your undergrad and how will you perform in med school
-specialty are you interested in
-why do you want to leave your job
-what do you think will your greatest challenge here at DMU?
-what will you bring to DMU
I then asked 5 questions to them. Keep in mind that each question will tangent in to many other conversations. Like I got in to how I was a standardized patient and acted as a teenager with an std and they were laughing. They give you a portfolio with a notepad when you first get there. I made sure to take notes all day and I wrote down some things I expected would come up in the interview. When I got in their I opened up notepad and used it to write notes during interview and keep track of what I was trying to say. Remember this is a two way street, like dating. I have to see with all that going on the outside I need to checkout what's going on in the inside to be sure I can have a long term relationship with them.
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