Michigan State University (MSUCOM) Discussion Thread 2013 - 2014

[mscaramel]

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Hey folks, how long after verification did you get the secondary?

 

[CanePreMed]

Hey folks, how long after verification did you get the secondary?

My app was released on 6/21 and I was in the first batch to receive secondaries on 7/1.

 

[mscaramel]

Ok. thank you very much. Was freaking out a little because I was verified a few days ago and still no secondary. Going to calm the heck down.

 

[gookies]

Would it be too late to apply here if I'm taking my MCAT late July? Didn't submit my primary yet because I was going to do that right after my MCAT depending how I feel about it.

 

[MrsHopeful]

Did everybody that already received a secondary did u guys have a Mcat score already?

 

[Shinobiz11]

Did everybody that already received a secondary did u guys have a Mcat score already?

No, I don't take the MCAT until Aug 22

 

[maybemed2013]

In the email from MSU, it states that everyone who applies receives a secondary.

 

[mscaramel]

Submit your primary now!!! Don't wait on your MCAT score

 

[3bamboo]

How many facts are you guys putting in your additional info section?

All of my major achievements are already on my primary app, do I realist them?

 

[Ubiquinator]

How many facts are you guys putting in your additional info section?

All of my major achievements are already on my primary app, do I realist them?

Personally, I wouldn't relist any achievements that are on your primary.

I put a few volunteer positions that I will be beginning soon. Don't feel obligated to fill the space with repetitive information. Better to list a few points of new information than a whole bunch of things they already have seen on your primary.

Personal opinion though, do as you please.

 

[Ubiquinator]

Would it be too late to apply here if I'm taking my MCAT late July? Didn't submit my primary yet because I was going to do that right after my MCAT depending how I feel about it.

If you are serious about getting in this cycle you need to submit your primary ASAP! The app process has been open for about 1 month so that is a lot of applicants in front you waiting to get verified.

I know AMCAS opened up June 10th and they still verifying June 10th applicants. Not good!

 

[StudyShy]

If you are serious about getting in this cycle you need to submit your primary ASAP! The app process has been open for about 1 month so that is a lot of applicants in front you waiting to get verified.

I know AMCAS opened up June 10th and they still verifying June 10th applicants. Not good!

😱 They are still verifying June 10th applicants?!? I think that I submitted early that day but can't remember now. It still took a while to get verified.

 

[MrsHopeful]

I've been verified for a while received apps from other schools but nothing from here. I take my Mcat July 13 but would submit the secondary if I received it ;( should I call?

 

[Ubiquinator]

😱 They are still verifying June 10th applicants?!? I think that I submitted early that day but can't remember now. It still took a while to get verified.

I just checked again, they are on June 11th! Now there rolling!

 

[Ubiquinator]

Should I submit the secondary?

Illinois resident

3.68c/3.64s/25

With your gpa being very slightly above their average and the mcat being 2 points below: It will all come down to your volunteer hours (high school + college). I would say if you have a good amount of volunteer hours (1,000+) then go for it. btw the avg number of hours is 850.

 

[Ubiquinator]

I've been verified for a while received apps from other schools but nothing from here. I take my Mcat July 13 but would submit the secondary if I received it ;( should I call?

Yes, call them. Not sure if they want you to wait until you are complete in all other areas to submit

 

[Anicetus]

Anyone else having issues viewing their photo ID on the page? 😕

 

[CanePreMed]

Anyone else having issues viewing their photo ID on the page? 😕

I uploaded one, but it doesn't show up. It gives me the option to delete so I am assuming its there.

 

[Anicetus]

I uploaded one, but it doesn't show up. It gives me the option to delete so I am assuming its there.

Did you already submit?

 

[CanePreMed]

Did you already submit?

Yes. I figure if its missing, I will hear about it.

 

[StudyShy]

Anyone else having issues viewing their photo ID on the page? 😕

I had trouble at first. I then resized the photo and then uploaded, and it took it then. 🙂

 

[Melomare17]

With your gpa being very slightly above their average and the mcat being 2 points below: It will all come down to your volunteer hours (high school + college). I would say if you have a good amount of volunteer hours (1,000+) then go for it. btw the avg number of hours is 850.

hm i have over 2100..would i be fine then?

 

[BossDejan]

hm i have over 2100..would i be fine then?

considering you have almost TRIPLED the average of 800, I think you'll be golden hahah

 

[Ubiquinator]

considering you have almost TRIPLED the average of 800, I think you'll be golden hahah

I think you'll have a good shot! Now submit that secondary!

 

[Ubiquinator]

😱 Where did you get this number from?

I spoke to a few MSUCOM medical students; they said 850 is only the average. If you want to stick out you should have >1,500 hours. Also, you will find 850 in almost every msucom thread from the past years.

Can anyone find it explicitly stated at MSUCOM's website?

 

[Anicetus]

I spoke to a few MSUCOM medical students; they said 850 is only the average. If you want to stick out you should have >1,500 hours. Also, you will find 850 in almost every msucom thread from the past years.

Can anyone find it explicitly stated at MSUCOM's website?

Is this for the Volunteer page? It looks like from the sample we can put things like TA etc and bulk up the hours from that....

 

[StudyShy]

Is this for the Volunteer page? It looks like from the sample we can put things like TA etc and bulk up the hours from that....

Anything that we helped with from HS onward that we didn't get paid for. For instance, I used to TA for the physics and computer science teacher while on my lunch breaks during high school. These hours accumulate quickly. I had long forgotten about this, but now it is important.

Think hard. You'd be suprised about how you have helped others without even really noticing! 🙂

 

[StudyShy]

I spoke to a few MSUCOM medical students; they said 850 is only the average. If you want to stick out you should have >1,500 hours. Also, you will find 850 in almost every msucom thread from the past years.

Can anyone find it explicitly stated at MSUCOM's website?

800ish is the magic number that I've seen on previous MSUCOM threads. If someone can find where it is on their website or if it is just speculation, that would be great to know where people stand.

 

[WingsFan]

I spoke to a few MSUCOM medical students; they said 850 is only the average. If you want to stick out you should have >1,500 hours. Also, you will find 850 in almost every msucom thread from the past years.

Can anyone find it explicitly stated at MSUCOM's website?

I'm guessing it is hard to say how much it will hurt your chances to only have half of this magic number? I mean, how heavily is this weighted in terms of your overall application?

 

[StudyShy]

I'm guessing it is hard to say how much it will hurt your chances to only have half of this magic number? I mean, how heavily is this weighted in terms of your overall application?

From last year, it seemed like it was one of the top things that they look at: MCAT, GPA, and volunteer hours.

 

[Anicetus]

Anything that we helped with from HS onward that we didn't get paid for. For instance, I used to TA for the physics and computer science teacher while on my lunch breaks during high school. These hours accumulate quickly. I had long forgotten about this, but now it is important.

Think hard. You'd be suprised about how you have helped others without even really noticing! 🙂

If we were running in a volunteer org, would the hours accumulate from any time we put into it? There isn't really an hour count on this stuff like blatant hospital volunteering...

I assume we can just pick and choose activities that are considered "helping others" from our AACOMAS and add up the hours.

 

[Ubiquinator]

Is this for the Volunteer page? It looks like from the sample we can put things like TA etc and bulk up the hours from that....

Only if you volunteered as a TA. I have >1,000 hours of TAing but couldnt put them bc I was paid for them

 

[Ubiquinator]

I'm guessing it is hard to say how much it will hurt your chances to only have half of this magic number? I mean, how heavily is this weighted in terms of your overall application?

I've heard on numerous occasions its 60% GPA/MCAT & 40% volunteer hours/extracirculars

 

[pandagirll]

I submitted my letters via interfolio July 5th but it still shows incomplete on the MSU app site. Did anyone else see a delay in delivering letters?

 

[Melomare17]

considering you have almost TRIPLED the average of 800, I think you'll be golden hahah

haha alright thanks!

I think you'll have a good shot! Now submit that secondary!

yes i did this past week! before i found out that they don't do interviews!

I've heard on numerous occasions its 60% GPA/MCAT & 40% volunteer hours/extracirculars

hm i might be at a disadvantage here then, depending on how i do on the mcat this month.

 

[Ubiquinator]

haha alright thanks!


yes i did this past week! before i found out that they don't do interviews!



hm i might be at a disadvantage here then, depending on how i do on the mcat this month.

Good luck! I am rooting for you. >27 and your golden

 

[ChineseKid]

Looking forward to this school

cGPA:3.27
MCAT:32
with couple thousands of volunteer hrs

hopefully the mcat and EA can forgive my GPA

 

[Jayb82388]

Anyone know if they will mark your secondary "complete" or "under final review" (however they do indicate it), if you have a second mcat pending? Could they theoretically accept you even if you have a second mcat score pending? thanks!!

 

[WingsFan]

Looking forward to this school

cGPA:3.27
MCAT:32
with couple thousands of volunteer hrs

hopefully the mcat and EA can forgive my GPA

My GPA and MCAT are about the same as yours, but I don't have the volunteer hours, between the two of us you've got the better shot.

 

[Melomare17]

Anyone know if they will mark your secondary "complete" or "under final review" (however they do indicate it), if you have a second mcat pending? Could they theoretically accept you even if you have a second mcat score pending? thanks!!

wondering this as well!

 

[WingsFan]

Got my secondary invite, and I'm honestly excited. It is a little scary since this is the last thing you can do to get admitted. It's more stressful than other secondaries where you've still got an interview to look good in.

 

[ChineseKid]

My GPA and MCAT are about the same as yours, but I don't have the volunteer hours, between the two of us you've got the better shot.

Good luck man!
Hopefully we both will get a interview 🙄


PS just called in, there's a issue with the photo upload. They told me to wait before submit :T

 

[StudyShy]

Only if you volunteered as a TA. I have >1,000 hours of TAing but couldnt put them bc I was paid for them

That's a lot of TA hours. Mine were unpaid, but I learned tons!

I've heard on numerous occasions its 60% GPA/MCAT & 40% volunteer hours/extracirculars

This is good to know.

Looking forward to this school

cGPA:3.27
MCAT:32
with couple thousands of volunteer hrs

hopefully the mcat and EA can forgive my GPA

My GPA and MCAT are about the same as yours, but I don't have the volunteer hours, between the two of us you've got the better shot.

I think that both of you have great chances.

Got my secondary invite, and I'm honestly excited. It is a little scary since this is the last thing you can do to get admitted. It's more stressful than other secondaries where you've still got an interview to look good in.

I agree. Happy secondaries to everyone! 🙂

 

[BossDejan]

got my secondary invite earlier today 🙂
as far as volunteer info goes, do we just pick strictly the volunteer experiences from our primary? What if I excluded a bunch from my primary that I want to add to my secondary?

Thanks 😀

 

[BossDejan]

how about physician shadowing experiences? I find that there is a blurry line between volunteering and extra-curricular experiences.. maybe I'm the only one that feels that way haha

 

[SD3321]

Is it even worth sending in a secondary if you do not have 850 volunteer hours?

 

[StudyShy]

how about physician shadowing experiences? I find that there is a blurry line between volunteering and extra-curricular experiences.. maybe I'm the only one that feels that way haha

Personally, I would not include shadowing since you are only supposed to be observing. Really, you are the one benefiting most from the interaction although from most people's perspective. Likewise, I did not include the time that I spent in paramedic and nursing although I felt like a slave at times, lol. Volunteering is a type of EC, but I agree, it can be hard to distinguish the difference in terms of what MSU is specifically asking for.

Is it even worth sending in a secondary if you do not have 850 volunteer hours?

I would definitely say for those less than 850 volunteer hours to apply to the school if they are interested especially if their MCAT/GPA are higher and they are passionate about MSUCOM.

 

[Ubiquinator]

Personally, I would not include shadowing since you are only supposed to be observing. Really, you are the one benefiting most from the interaction although from most people's perspective. Likewise, I did not include the time that I spent in paramedic and nursing although I felt like a slave at times, lol. Volunteering is a type of EC, but I agree, it can be hard to distinguish the difference in terms of what MSU is specifically asking for.



I would definitely say for those less than 850 volunteer hours to apply to the school if they are interested especially if their MCAT/GPA are higher and they are passionate about MSUCOM.

Couldn't agree more. MSUCOM defines volunteer experiences as positions one held that benefited others. I know that I was the one who heavily benefited from my shadowing experiences.

If you have <850 volunteer hours, as StudyShy said: it needs to be compensated somewhere else in your application.

 

[ChineseKid]

How detailed was everyone's "duties/responsibilities" under volunteer?

 

[WingsFan]

How detailed was everyone's "duties/responsibilities" under volunteer?

There is a character limit of 200 for each entry I believe, and I think I used almost all of that on each entry.