Question about MSUCOM

[Jpc984]

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Does anyone know how their admissions work? I know they do not interview unless they want to know more. The adcoms also do not review all applications. Does anyone know what their criteria for review is?

 

[ShyRem]

Wow. I dunno. I turned down their OOS interview a couple years ago due to their high oos tuition costs.

 

[146233]

I turned down their secondary this year because it was just absurd and I don't know why they think they're in a position to make such ridiculous demands. 😀

 

[gobluegirl]

I'm not really sure about the criteria, I'd like to know that too. I just sent in the MSUCOM secondary yesterday...it took forever to fill out

 

[speeter]

I think the most difficult thing about the MSUCOM secondary is their evaluation forms. I hate having to go back to my evaluators and bug them more.

 

[youngtraumadoc]

Just an obeservation..

This school is one of the few that I have seen that states on their website that applicants should be kind/considerate to their admissions office. Now of course we as applicants are always kind and considerate when dealing with a potential medical school, but when they explictly state this, it sure makes you wonder...

 

[FrickenhugeMD]

I bet they get some harassment about their ridiculous LOR requests. Even though I did my UG here, it still ginded my gears to get that thing out, took me almost 3 weeks. I still have to get in touch with my writers and give them that form....

 

[146233]

They're just unreasonable and far too snooty ("Be nice") for me.

 

[r2cole1]

I appreciated their evalution forms. I liked the fact that I could approach people who really know and that they weren't required to have an DO/MD or PhD behind their name.


Anyways, their website says that admissions advisors review all and then pass on 20% of the applications to the admissions committee. Their website also explains in great detail what they are looking for in an applicant. I have no doubt that they are serious about this criteria and that meeting it, along with a good essay is what is needed to be in that 20%.

 

[HrvatskiDoktor]

I actually had an hour long meeting with an admission's person at MSU-COM and she was super nice. She explained the entire process to me, including why they did away with interviewing people. She said that they learned that it was really easy for people to fake their way through an interview and come across however they wanted to come across as. They changed and updated their LOR forms to be more inclusive and in depth because they feel that they can more accurately learn about a person from good LOR than a short interview. Another reason stated was that in an interview with that is 3-on-1, all three people could come out with a different impression of the person, and that impression could be different than the LORs.

As for admissions, they have an algorithm that they follow. If you meet the minimum MCAT and GPA you get a secondary application. Once the whole application is complete, they put all of your stuff into the algorithm and the top 25% EACH WEEK go to comittee. They also stated that as a reason why to apply early, because you might not be in a top 20% score until October or November b/c traditionally the 4.0's and upper 30 MCAT scores come in first.

The algorithm contains 4 sections that are weighted in different ways. She did say that they are about equal, but there are some variations. The four areas are GPA, MCAT, Volunteer hours, and---okay, completely blanking on the 4th. Then once in comittee, LOR and Personal Statements are investigated and end up being how they pick the ones to admit each week.

I don't know/remember how many are picked each week, but I think she implied that everyone or no one could be picked. Also, as long as you are in the top 25%, you will go to committee each week, unless you a chosen to go into a "pre-hold" group, which means that you will not be competing anymore with people who have really high GPA or MCAT and will be compared to people with about the same GPA and MCAT scores as you.

She did tell me that they have the most agressive admissions schedule in the country, and have a goal of knowing who will be attending by Jan of 2008 (or at least about 85% b/c they know that some will decline or change for a first choice school between Jan and June).

I hope this all helps. And for the being nice to the people in the office...it's really not that hard b/c they are super nice and willing to work with people to help as much as possible.

 

[homelesssimpson]

They're just unreasonable and far too snooty ("Be nice") for me.

Indeedy. I emailed them that their status page didn't have an option for 2008 a while back, and their response to me was that it wasn't the Admissions office's responsibility for the status update page. 😕

 

[EEL08]

Wait, so MSUCOM actually did away with all interviews? I knew that in previous years some people were accepted without an interview but I wasn't able to find any current info on their website.

 

[Jpc984]

Wait, so MSUCOM actually did away with all interviews? I knew that in previous years some people were accepted without an interview but I wasn't able to find any current info on their website.

They do interview a couple people (if they want to know more about you). I think the vast majority of them get accepted.

 

[Jpc984]

Do they start reviewing in September?

 

[EEL08]

They do interview a couple people (if they want to know more about you). I think the vast majority of them get accepted.

Thanks! I would love to apply there but unfortunately because of the OOS tuition and low chances of getting in I decided not to.

 

[r2cole1]

As for admissions, they have an algorithm that they follow. If you meet the minimum MCAT and GPA you get a secondary application. Once the whole application is complete, they put all of your stuff into the algorithm and the top 25% EACH WEEK go to comittee. They also stated that as a reason why to apply early, because you might not be in a top 20% score until October or November b/c traditionally the 4.0's and upper 30 MCAT scores come in first.


I don't know/remember how many are picked each week, but I think she implied that everyone or no one could be picked. Also, as long as you are in the top 25%, you will go to committee each week, unless you a chosen to go into a "pre-hold" group, which means that you will not be competing anymore with people who have really high GPA or MCAT and will be compared to people with about the same GPA and MCAT scores as you.

HD, could you please clarify- If you had average stats and applied early, but didn't make the 25% cut off because the pool was filled w/ 4.0's and 30's...I take it from your first paragraph that your application would continue to cirrculate and perhaps be good enough by October. In the second paragraph however, I think you are saying that if you do not make the 25% you are out of the game (unless you are pre-hold). It is early in the morning, perhaps I am missing something?
Thanks

 

[HrvatskiDoktor]

Wait, so MSUCOM actually did away with all interviews? I knew that in previous years some people were accepted without an interview but I wasn't able to find any current info on their website.

They only interview people who they want to offer an acceptance to, but there is something off or that needs more explaining. They do invite everyone to come to campus on certain days to make sure that MSU is a right fit.

Do they start reviewing in September?

She didn't say, but again implied that as soon as they have enough to go to committee, they will go to committe.

HD, could you please clarify- If you had average stats and applied early, but didn't make the 25% cut off because the pool was filled w/ 4.0's and 30's...I take it from your first paragraph that your application would continue to cirrculate and perhaps be good enough by October. In the second paragraph however, I think you are saying that if you do not make the 25% you are out of the game (unless you are pre-hold). It is early in the morning, perhaps I am missing something?
Thanks

They whole thing is complicated. I really was glad that I have taken upper level Biostats to understand everything she told me!!! I don't have a high GPA, so she was very frank with me that compared to the early applicants, I would probably not go to comittee, however they do not reject anyone who meets the minimum right away. That means, I could stay in the pool for months waiting to reach that top 25% line. Once you are committee you are either accepted, waitlisted or put "aside." This means that you are not rejected, and that they feel that they would seriously want to give you a shot, but compared to the "rest" of the people in the committee at this moment, it is not fair to compare. So, you will go into a special file drawer and wait there with everyone else in the same boat. It would be like if you have a 3.0 GPA with a 27 on your MCAT and awesome LOR, personal statement and volunteer/EC activities. they don't want to decide directly between you and someone with a 4.0 and 39 MCAT.

If you are still confused (and I don't blame you if you are) give them a call and just ask for some clarification on how the system works. Everyone was really night and answered every question I could come up with!!

 

[r2cole1]

That makes perfect sense HrvatskiDoktor. Thank you for clarifying. I do question how many matriculating students have those kind of stats though (4.0 39MCAT) given the statistical averages at many schools. Seems like it would take alot of very low stats to yield the mid 3.0/20's MCAT average.

 

[desijigga]

That makes perfect sense HrvatskiDoktor. Thank you for clarifying. I do question how many matriculating students have those kind of stats though (4.0 39MCAT) given the statistical averages at many schools. Seems like it would take alot of very low stats to yield the mid 3.0/20's MCAT average.

I think many people (not all) who have 3.5+ GPAs and 30+ MCAT apply to MSUCOM as a safe bet. I think thats what makes it hard for the average DO applicant to get in the top 25%.

 

[scowdeva]

Does anyone have any idea when the first people get offers? It seems that the class is filled by December, but when could we resonably expect to hear from them (in the hopes of saving some cash by not accepting interviews at other schools)???

 

[Jpc984]

Does anyone have any idea when the first people get offers? It seems that the class is filled by December, but when could we resonably expect to hear from them (in the hopes of saving some cash by not accepting interviews at other schools)???

I was actually curious about this, so I did a search on SDN. Last year, the first invites were in late September. This is when I am expecting to hear anything from them.

 

[vanhor25]

I bet they get some harassment about their ridiculous LOR requests. Even though I did my UG here, it still ginded my gears to get that thing out, took me almost 3 weeks. I still have to get in touch with my writers and give them that form....

I am still an UG at MSU and considering their DO school... should I not waste my time? I have read about their ridiculous LOR requests and I don't know how anyone could come up with those kinds of letters (including myself.)

 

[drgioiadds]

This thread is 4 years old, but I didn't think anything about the admissions process was ridiculous. It seems to me they are looking for well rounded people committed to their school and the osteopathic philosophy. Making the secondary a little more complicated simply weans out people applying to this school as a back up plan.

 

[Lijia4]

I am still an UG at MSU and considering their DO school... should I not waste my time? I have read about their ridiculous LOR requests and I don't know how anyone could come up with those kinds of letters (including myself.)

I applied last cycle and the LOR process was really not nearly as big a deal as people are making it out to be. If you have taken the initiative to form solid relationships with your letter writers and they are in full support of your endeavors, they will have no problem with filling it out. Mine were happy to and actually appreciated the depth of the evaluation form's format.

The secondary is somewhat time consuming but not worth the incessant complaining that is seen on this site...

 

[drgioiadds]

I applied last cycle and the LOR process was really not nearly as big a deal as people are making it out to be. If you have taken the initiative to form solid relationships with your letter writers and they are in full support of your endeavors, they will have no problem with filling it out. Mine were happy to and actually appreciated the depth of the evaluation form's format.

The secondary is somewhat time consuming but not worth the incessant complaining that is seen on this site...

I agree and I've been out of school for 10 years. I actually enjoyed the essay topic.