Michigan State University (MSUCOM) Discussion Thread 2013 - 2014

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Jayb82388 said:
There is no "formula" or "alogrithm" this year...each application will be seen by a commitee member. So as far as who gets reviewed first? im not sure, logically it would seem those who submitted secondaries earlier...?
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I believe I heard they are reviewing applications in the order they are marked complete. Someone correct me if I am mistaken
 
ortnakas said:
I'm far behind the rest of you in the process, but I have a question for someone about prerequisites:

Do you think health & wellness counts as a "behavioral science" prereq? I'm a nontrad a few years out of graduate school, so it's not very feasible to another class on at this point. I have more than enough credits in the rest of the categories. 3.77 GPA undergrad with a M.S., 25 MCAT.

Thanks all.
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MSUCOM is very stringent about pre-reqs. I don't believe health/wellness is a behavioral science.

Straight from MSUCOM website.
Courses that study the behavior of individuals and/or groups fulfill this requirement. Examples: psychology, sociology, cultural anthropology, organizational development, military leadership/command. Courses that study theories and belief systems, such as history, literature, philosophy, ethics or religious studies, do not meet this requirement.
 
I just submitted my secondary today, but I sent in my letters of rec about 3 weeks ago and they haven't been marked as received yet. Has anyone else sent their letters in this long ago and not have them marked as received?
 
Ubiquinator said:
I believe I heard they are reviewing applications in the order they are marked complete. Someone correct me if I am mistaken
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yeah i believe that is correct...makes sense if they are not "scoring" or "ranking the apps like they did previously so yeah you would think it would be in order in which they received the secondaries...thats what im going to believe anyway haha
 
Ubiquinator said:
I believe I heard they are reviewing applications in the order they are marked complete. Someone correct me if I am mistaken
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I can't seem to decide who should write my LORs as I was originally going to have a committee letter from my undergrad send my LOR. I wanted to call them and ask them if they accept a committee letter but the secondary essentially asks us not to call them. :-/
 
Anyone submit more than the two required letters?
 
geh926 said:
Anyone submit more than the two required letters?
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I was wondering this too... I have a committee letter... has anyone asked if they can send that? Their instructions seem to discourage this.
 
geh926 said:
Anyone submit more than the two required letters?
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The instructions for the recommendation section on the secondary specifically say that they "only accept two letters of recommendation", so I wouldn't risk it. Besides, they only let you enter 2 names for who your letter writers are, I doubt they would look at any others that you send them.
 
WingsFan said:
The instructions for the recommendation section on the secondary specifically say that they "only accept two letters of recommendation", so I wouldn't risk it. Besides, they only let you enter 2 names for who your letter writers are, I doubt they would look at any others that you send them.
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Cool. I only sent two, but wasn't sure if they accepted more like other schools do. Thanks!
 
tinylilron said:
I was wondering this too... I have a committee letter... has anyone asked if they can send that? Their instructions seem to discourage this.
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I'm not sure why someone would submit more than 2 LoRs when they explicitly state that they only want 2. Maybe I missed something?
 
Ubiquinator said:
I'm not sure why someone would submit more than 2 LoRs when they explicitly state that they only want 2. Maybe I missed something?
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I mean, it seems pretty obvious to me not to for that very reason. I'm more worried about how long it will take for them to mark my letters as received and when I should contact them about it since it has been almost 3 weeks since I sent them.
 
WingsFan said:
I mean, it seems pretty obvious to me not to for that very reason. I'm more worried about how long it will take for them to mark my letters as received and when I should contact them about it since it has been almost 3 weeks since I sent them.
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They download them in "batches". Took them 3.5 weeks to download my 2 LoRs and I submitted my sec 7/1.
 
Ubiquinator said:
They download them in "batches". Took them 3.5 weeks to download my 2 LoRs and I submitted my sec 7/1.
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Just got a secondary invite from MSU. I have a pretty low MCAT and do not know what to make of it. Do they send secondaries to everyone or is this a good thing?
 
postbacpremed87 said:
Just got a secondary invite from MSU. I have a pretty low MCAT and do not know what to make of it. Do they send secondaries to everyone or is this a good thing?
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From the secondary invite email: "This is the first year all candidates applying to the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine will receive a supplemental application. The receipt of a supplemental application does not assume competitiveness or guarantee admission."
 
okokok said:
From the secondary invite email: "This is the first year all candidates applying to the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine will receive a supplemental application. The receipt of a supplemental application does not assume competitiveness or guarantee admission."
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I just saw that. Thanks.
 
Does anyone here know if MSU prefers certain LORs over others? Physician, science, extracurricular, etc?

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
 
Ubiquinator said:
They download them in "batches". Took them 3.5 weeks to download my 2 LoRs and I submitted my sec 7/1.
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And just to clarify, the month deadline they give you for completing your application only refers to submitting the secondary, not them downloading the letters, right? I just want to make sure I won't be penalized in any way. I know I'm probably being neurotic, but for my #1 choice school, I worry a lot :scared:
 
WingsFan said:
And just to clarify, the month deadline they give you for completing your application only refers to submitting the secondary, not them downloading the letters, right? I just want to make sure I won't be penalized in any way. I know I'm probably being neurotic, but for my #1 choice school, I worry a lot :scared:
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I believe the deadline is in reference to submitting the secondary. Your not in control of when download the letters so your fine lol.

No worries mate. Hope you hear the good news in 5 weeks!
 
Hey all! Just submitted my secondary, July 30. Feels good to finally be rid of that app. Good luck to everyone! MSU is my first choice. My LOR were downloaded a few days after I submitted them. Think I just lucked out and got included in the latest batch.
 
tinylilron said:
I can't seem to decide who should write my LORs as I was originally going to have a committee letter from my undergrad send my LOR. I wanted to call them and ask them if they accept a committee letter but the secondary essentially asks us not to call them. :-/
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You have a legitimate question. Go ahead and call them. What's the point of having an admissions office that students can call if you can't ask questions about their application? Yeah, the app may discourage you from calling the office but that sort of thing is ubiquitous amongst bureaucracies nowadays. You're expected to call they just want to decrease volume.

Since MSU doesn't seem to care who writes your letters I would just go with people that you know will take the time to write a decent letter. Professors, work supervisors, community organizers and doctors are all good options. Your best bet is to get a few letters written and decide which letters to send to MSU based on the enthusiasm of the writers to write them.
 
So, the first essay is: "Describe in two to three paragraphs how you learned about the osteopathic profession and why you feel the profession is a good fit for you. (500 words)"

Did people interpret the second half of the prompt as, why a doctor in general, or why specifically D.O.?
 
Peterako said:
So, the first essay is: "Describe in two to three paragraphs how you learned about the osteopathic profession and why you feel the profession is a good fit for you. (500 words)"

Did people interpret the second half of the prompt as, why a doctor in general, or why specifically D.O.?
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Specifically a do.
 
I read this entire thread and could not find anything on high school activities with respect to sports. Should I list sports as volunteer? I really am not desperate for hours, but the high school section seems so lonely. I ran CC/Track primarily, and was very involved, but no volunteer positions stick in mind except good ol' NHS food drives.

Essentially, sports or no sports? Thanks. Submitting tomorrow and its due tomorrow, story of my life! 😛
 
scuzum2u said:
I read this entire thread and could not find anything on high school activities with respect to sports. Should I list sports as volunteer? I really am not desperate for hours, but the high school section seems so lonely. I ran CC/Track primarily, and was very involved, but no volunteer positions stick in mind except good ol' NHS food drives.

Essentially, sports or no sports? Thanks. Submitting tomorrow and its due tomorrow, story of my life! 😛
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i don't think sports are volunteer hours as you aren't helping any individuals, groups, or organizations or whatever the description was on the secondary. unless you coached them or something. i did not include mine
 
Thank you! From what I've read, unless the sports team raised money, etc. then list it. I just a church volunteer thing I used to do.

Also I'm finding it difficult to figure out what to put for the additional information section, as I feel like they already know everything significant. Maybe put how many bowels/day?
 
scuzum2u said:
Thank you! From what I've read, unless the sports team raised money, etc. then list it. I just a church volunteer thing I used to do.

Also I'm finding it difficult to figure out what to put for the additional information section, as I feel like they already know everything significant. Maybe put how many bowels/day?
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i always just put new activities in those. theyre optional so probably not a big deal
 
I was trying to put all my essays in and send it out by midnight and although I can log in, I cannot enter and information. Did they lock me out at 5PM or something or was the deadline yesterday
 
So how do we know if we are complete, meaning that they have everything in (MCAT, LORs and supplemental)?
 
Alexandra said:
So how do we know if we are complete, meaning that they have everything in (MCAT, LORs and supplemental)?
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Login to the portal, click the status tab and see if you have green checkmarks on all 4 categories.
 
ChineseKid said:
yep total of 16 schools :scared:
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Hi ChineseKid,

I hope you don't mind me asking, but what are the 16 schools that you applied to? I'm a Canadian applicant as well, but I only know of approximately 10 or so schools that are Canadian-friendly. Thanks!
 
Member102918 said:
Hi ChineseKid,

I hope you don't mind me asking, but what are the 16 schools that you applied to? I'm a Canadian applicant as well, but I only know of approximately 10 or so schools that are Canadian-friendly. Thanks!
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There aren't 16 that are Canadian friendly. More like 10 that actually take us, MSU takes the majority though.
 
hi all. it seems like all of you have a solid grasp on this. i am trying to finish the secondary and just have a few questions. for the additional information, it states " You may use this page to provide bullet points of any additional information you feel will help us to get a complete picture of your life experience such as major achievements or explanations", does that mean we should write it as bullet points or they just mean brief info on additional stuff in paragraph form? Also, if my school is preparing a letter packet to upload should I just write 2 of the recommender's names and they'll pull it from the packet that's uploaded on virtual eval? Finally, for additional information with hs and college activities, im thinking of relisting everything from the primary? it seems like that's what they want?

Good luck everyone. I know I'll need it with my 2.99 sGPA. Have over 2000 hours total volunteering and 29 mcat but that GPA seems to be my Achilles heel.
 
Hello everyone,

I was hoping to resolve a final consensus as to what worked for most applicants: for those whose LORs have been marked as received, did you submit it with an AACOMAS ID with the dash, or without the dash?
 
Member102918 said:
Hello everyone,

I was hoping to resolve a final consensus as to what worked for most applicants: for those whose LORs have been marked as received, did you submit it with an AACOMAS ID with the dash, or without the dash?
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Without the dash.
 
sudo said:
You got an interview without taking the MCAT?? 😕😕 whaaat lol

Are you some outstanding nontrad or something?
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Given that MSUCOM doesn't interview, I think studyshy is talking about a secondary invite, which I'm pretty sure they aren't pre-screening for this year.
 
sudo said:
You got an interview without taking the MCAT?? 😕😕 whaaat lol

Are you some outstanding nontrad or something?
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WingsFan said:
Given that MSUCOM doesn't interview, I think studyshy is talking about a secondary invite, which I'm pretty sure they aren't pre-screening for this year.
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I only have received a secondary from MSUCOM; however last year, I did get an interview at Erie without taking the MCAT. 😳
I went to the interview nine months pregnant with a PEG tube. Got rejected but it was fun. I made some friends. I look back on it and think of it as my baby moon.
 
Member102918 said:
Hello everyone,

I was hoping to resolve a final consensus as to what worked for most applicants: for those whose LORs have been marked as received, did you submit it with an AACOMAS ID with the dash, or without the dash?
Click to expand...
Either works.
 
sudo said:
You got an interview without taking the MCAT?? 😕😕 whaaat lol

Are you some outstanding nontrad or something?
Click to expand...
A lot of applicants receive an II at Lake Erie without having taken the mcat yet. I personally know of 4.
 
Albein said:
hi all. it seems like all of you have a solid grasp on this. i am trying to finish the secondary and just have a few questions. for the additional information, it states " You may use this page to provide bullet points of any additional information you feel will help us to get a complete picture of your life experience such as major achievements or explanations", does that mean we should write it as bullet points or they just mean brief info on additional stuff in paragraph form? Also, if my school is preparing a letter packet to upload should I just write 2 of the recommender's names and they'll pull it from the packet that's uploaded on virtual eval? Finally, for additional information with hs and college activities, im thinking of relisting everything from the primary? it seems like that's what they want?

Good luck everyone. I know I'll need it with my 2.99 sGPA. Have over 2000 hours total volunteering and 29 mcat but that GPA seems to be my Achilles heel.
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I'm rooting for you Albein. Hopefully your volunteer hours can equalize your low gpa.

32 days guys!!
 
WingsFan said:
Given that MSUCOM doesn't interview, I think studyshy is talking about a secondary invite, which I'm pretty sure they aren't pre-screening for this year.
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What...MSUCOM doesn't interview?

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
 
Ubiquinator said:
By the way, no offense was implied to you StudyShy with that comment. Rooting for you this cycle!
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No offense taken. I'm hoping that we all make it to MSU. We've all worked hard. 🙂
 
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