Michigan State University (MSUCOM) Discussion Thread 2016-2017

[pizza1994]

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if you took a semester off then should you address that in the "optional" section or should I just not talk about it?

 

[pizza1994]

also how heavily are secondaries looked at? I know personal statement is looked at quite a lot..but what about these secondary essays?

 

[lemonscientist]

also how heavily are secondaries looked at? I know personal statement is looked at quite a lot..but what about these secondary essays?

https://forums.studentdoctor.net/th...nes-personal-statement.1206554/#post-17861175

 

[littledreamer]

Also received a secondary here! 🙂

 

[littledreamer]

Quick question- do we need to use all 500 words? My exposure to osteopathic medicine has not been that exceptionally extensive, and using more than 250 words here just feels like padding to me....

 

[softballNRG]

Has anyone whose LORs have been received and accepted on AACOMAS and submitted their secondary having issues with the LORs showing up in your application portal? I am still marked as incomplete because the LORs haven't shown up, but I know they have been received by AACOMAS. Thoughts?

 

[hodge14]

I emailed them and asked; I received an "application complete" email a few hours later


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[softballNRG]

I emailed them and asked; I received an "application complete" email a few hours later


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Okay awesome thank you!

 

[softballNRG]

I emailed them and asked; I received an "application complete" email a few hours later


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

What email did you use when you asked them?

 

[hodge14]

I emailed with the one on my application - put your full name plus AACOMAS ID in the email


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[pizza1994]

For the question "What do you want your legacy to be to your friends, family and the community in the future?".....what is meant by legacy.....as in after I die how I want to be rememberd?

 

[femmegoblue]

Just submitted. Gonna barf!

 

[DrPatriot]

Quick question- do we need to use all 500 words? My exposure to osteopathic medicine has not been that exceptionally extensive, and using more than 250 words here just feels like padding to me....

Everyone's answer style is going to be different. If you feel like you sufficiently answered the question then move on. You don't have to fill every question completely.

 

[DrPatriot]

For the question "What do you want your legacy to be to your friends, family and the community in the future?".....what is meant by legacy.....as in after I die how I want to be rememberd?

Not necessarily "pretend you died" but more of a define yourself up to this point in your life. What are your principles, morals, accomplishments, temperament, goals, etc. and how will these things help you going forward.

If I were to ask someone in your family to describe you overall what would they say about you?

That's how I answered that question last year. It was actually one of my favorite essay questions out of all the schools because it was unique.

 

[softballNRG]

Marked as complete this morning! Had to send an email to them about making sure they received my LORs though.

 

[femmegoblue]

Marked complete today after emailing about my LOR. Now the wait begins!

 

[pizza1994]

how can I upload more than 3 letters? There are only 3 boxes on the application where you can write the letter writer names

 

[pizza1994]

When I complete a section, such as the "Prerequiste Requirements" section then why does it still say "incomplete" at the top and I see no green check mark?

 

[femmegoblue]

how can I upload more than 3 letters? There are only 3 boxes on the application where you can write the letter writer names

I am pretty sure MSUCOM does not accept more than 3 letters.

 

[pizza1994]

I am pretty sure MSUCOM does not accept more than 3 letters.

I emailed them and they said "feel free to upload more" but how?

 

[femmegoblue]

The section of the app that says "upload documents"?

 

[tch233]

@SpartanWolverine , I have a random question. Do you know if there are any school sponsored research programs at MSUCOM for either the summer before entrance or during the school year (fall/spring/summer)? I wanted to get involved with research, primarily something cancer related, and trying to get a feel for what each university has to offer.

This would technically be your "summer before entrance" as MSUCOM's DO program begins in the summer. There is a program for a summer of school sponsored research at MSUCOM, I believe it is called SUPER program or something like that. I also believe you are too late for this summer, but I am not sure, so take a look online. It would always be an option in the future if you end up having to reapply, but lets think positive thoughts that that won't be necessary! For stuff during the year, I don't know of any "school sponsored" programs open to the public, but that doesn't mean that there aren't! If however, you are a student currently at MSU, I do believe there are definitely school sponsored programs for you. I'm currently in an MSU lab and there are undergrad MSU students here all the time throughout the year!

I don't know where you are coming from and how it compares but the cancer research at MSU is quite small IMHO (probably only around 20 labs) and you can certainly try to just reach out and email PIs to see if they will let you participate in research, although it may not be school sponsored at that point.

 

[Laito]

Here's the class profile for Class of 2020. Admission from MSU really looks at the whole package, not just the GPA/MCAT. So don't be too discourage (or be too confident) based on the grades alone. I'm an incoming OMS1 student and had nothing but great experience from the admissions office and especially from the 2nd year students. They are all AMAZING!! I hope for the best of all of you and we shall meet next year =)!

Total applicant: 5395
Class size: 319
Female:139
Male: 180
Avg age: 23
Youngest: 20
Oldest: 50
Average MCAT: 28/504
GPA: 3.67
MI resident: 269
Nonresident: 50

 

[DrPatriot]

Here's the class profile for Class of 2020. Admission from MSU really looks at the whole package, not just the GPA/MCAT. So don't be too discourage (or be too confident) based on the grades alone. I'm an incoming OMS1 student and had nothing but great experience from the admissions office and especially from the 2nd year students. They are all AMAZING!! I hope for the best of all of you and we shall meet next year =)!

Total applicant: 5395
Class size: 319
Female:139
Male: 180
Avg age: 23
Youngest: 20
Oldest: 50
Average MCAT: 28/504
GPA: 3.67
MI resident: 269
Nonresident: 50

Cool! Where did the info?

 

[Laito]

Cool! Where did the info?

It was on the last sheet on the file that was sent to us with all of our pictures. (The one that asked us to verify our information)

 

[BoroPreMed92]

So I submitted my secondary last week only to find out that two of my letter writers didn't sign their letters so they won't accept them. So now I have to have them re-submit them through Interfolio. God they're gonna hate me when all of this is done.

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[deleted706240]

AACOMAS is verified and I'm sending my app to MSU-COM tonight. What's the turnaround for a secondary look like? OOS, 3.9 GPA, 506 MCAT.

 

[DrPatriot]

AACOMAS is verified and I'm sending my app to MSU-COM tonight. What's the turnaround for a secondary look like? OOS, 3.9 GPA, 506 MCAT.

Everyone gets a secondary. You should get it once they receive your primary.

 

[deleted706240]

@DrPatriot Thank you!

 

[xemnas83]

2 quick questions:

1. Do we have to actually upload letters? My letters are in AACOMAS already and I don't have them so uploading makes no sense.

2. In the community service section, it says to "Note any additional experiences (not previously listed on AACOMAS) below." Does that mean I should only include things that I didn't include in AACOMAS? Or do I have to include everything again?

Thanks.

 

[femmegoblue]

2 quick questions:

1. Do we have to actually upload letters? My letters are in AACOMAS already and I don't have them so uploading makes no sense.

2. In the community service section, it says to "Note any additional experiences (not previously listed on AACOMAS) below." Does that mean I should only include things that I didn't include in AACOMAS? Or do I have to include everything again?

Thanks.

1. They will download from aacomas, you don't need to send the letters again

2. Only list stuff that was not on AACOMAS. For me, that was high school volunteering.

 

[xemnas83]

1. They will download from aacomas, you don't need to send the letters again

2. Only list stuff that was not on AACOMAS. For me, that was high school volunteering.

I'm glad to hear that. Thank you.

 

[SpartanWolverine]

@SpartanWolverine , I have a random question. Do you know if there are any school sponsored research programs at MSUCOM for either the summer before entrance or during the school year (fall/spring/summer)? I wanted to get involved with research, primarily something cancer related, and trying to get a feel for what each university has to offer.

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you! Just got back from vacation before starting M3 year tomorrow... it looks like your question got answered, however? I assume by "sponsored" you mean paid? There's certainly plenty of research to go around, and the only real limitation is your free time as a medical student. The best way to get involved is to reach out to PIs and see what they have to offer. The COM office of research can also be very helpful; for example, they have a list of mentors who specifically are interested in mentoring medical students (http://www.com.msu.edu/research/Mentor Pages/Research_Mentors.htm; see the "cancer" tab for ones that might be relevant for you).

 

[pizza1994]

Can someone suggest what to do if you submitted and already included stuff listed in AACOMAS application for community service section? Would it make a big difference or should I email them letting them know?

 

[DrPatriot]

Can someone suggest what to do if you submitted and already included stuff listed in AACOMAS application for community service section? Would it make a big difference or should I email them letting them know?

You included community service activities in the secondary that were already included in your primary AACOMAS app?

Not a big deal. Relax

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[pizza1994]

You included community service activities in the secondary that were already included in your primary AACOMAS app?

Not a big deal. Relax

Sent from my A1-840FHD using SDN mobile

Yes by complete accident. So you think I don't need to email them apologizing about this?

 

[DrPatriot]

Yes by complete accident. So you think I don't need to email them apologizing about this?

No, I wouldn't personally.

 

[NecrotizingFasciitis]

Do you guys think it'd be okay to submit my secondary essays before I receive my MCAT on 07/19? I wanted to make an advising appointment to ask, but the earliest I could get was 07/19..... so.... that's not helpful obviously lol.

 

[femmegoblue]

Do you guys think it'd be okay to submit my secondary essays before I receive my MCAT on 07/19? I wanted to make an advising appointment to ask, but the earliest I could get was 07/19..... so.... that's not helpful obviously lol.

I think it's fine. Your app won't be complete any way until you get the scores, so if they're done and ready to go, you can submit and it's one less thing to worry about. You would be a reapplicant next cycle anyway, regardless of the scores you receive (just the reality, I'm sure you did great!), so I say go for it.

 

[femmegoblue]

II JUST NOW! Dream school. Someone pinch me.

 

[pizza1994]

II JUST NOW! Dream school. Someone pinch me.

Congratulations! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 When did you submit your secondary? This is awesomeeee

 

[femmegoblue]

Congratulations! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 When did you submit your secondary? This is awesomeeee

My secondary was complete 06/27. It's so bizarre because I emailed this morning asking when II's would go out and the lady said end of August LOL

 

[Scrubs101]

II JUST NOW! Dream school. Someone pinch me.

Congrats thats awesome!!!!

 

[pizza1994]

My secondary was complete 06/27. It's so bizarre because I emailed this morning asking when II's would go out and the lady said end of August LOL

This is great news! I am really looking forward to hearing back from this school. 🙂 🙂 🙂

 

[SpartanWolverine]

II JUST NOW! Dream school. Someone pinch me.

Congratulations!! Looks like interviews may start in mid-August, so makes sense they would go out sooner rather than later!

 

[femmegoblue]

Congratulations!! Looks like interviews may start in mid-August, so makes sense they would go out sooner rather than later!

Mine is the first day available, I think. August 19! Hoping to pull a @DrPatriot and have an acceptance here before September. I will wear green and white for the rest of my life haha (but with maize and blue underneath, of course).

 

[Nabeel06]

Mine is the first day available, I think. August 19! Hoping to pull a @DrPatriot and have an acceptance here before September. I will wear green and white for the rest of my life haha (but with maize and blue underneath, of course).

Congrats!! I check this thread everyday hoping you guys get interview calls. Good luck to you all!

 

[Nabeel06]

@femmegoblue did they call or email?

 

[SpartanWolverine]

Mine is the first day available, I think. August 19! Hoping to pull a @DrPatriot and have an acceptance here before September. I will wear green and white for the rest of my life haha (but with maize and blue underneath, of course).

There are a fair number of us with block "M" pins on our white coats, so you'd be among friends. 😉

And yep, as far as I know that's the first day! Woo!

 

[DrPatriot]

Mine is the first day available, I think. August 19! Hoping to pull a @DrPatriot and have an acceptance here before September. I will wear green and white for the rest of my life haha (but with maize and blue underneath, of course).

That's the right attitude! I was extremely lucky and I am enjoying MSUCOM tremendously so far (although med school is harder than I ever imagined). Let me know if you need anything and hopefully you can come to the dark side and throw on the Sparty head, I love it now!