Rocky Vista University (RVUCOM) Discussion Thread 2014 - 2015

Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
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Any RVU students able to comment on the clinical rotations in Colorado? Are most of the local sites at mid to large sized hospitals, or do a lot of students end up in smaller clinic settings? Anyone have luck setting up rotations at University of Colorado?
 
Not sure about setting up rotations at CU but for the rotations in the Denver Metro area all are at fairly large hospital systems. The Centura and Health One systems include hospitals that have level 1 trauma centers (there are three adult level 1 trauma centers in Denver and 1 peds). The hospital in Colorado Springs is a large city level 2 trauma center. The Pueblo is a smaller hospital system as well as grand junction but are full service. The remaining sites in Utah, SD, and else where are small community centers, but I haven't seen many of those. I write this just from working as a paramedic in the city for the last 20 years. I am 90% sure I will be there this next fall. Just haven't fully committed yet.
 
Grrrr lol

I got a new phone recently and didn't have a lot of numbers so when I got a call from the 303 area code, my heart skipped a beat.. I thought it was RVU... nope just my friend. I probably sounded so bummed out on his call lol.
 
jsmith522 said:
Be patient. I can happen anytime between now and April when the last interview occurs.
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Oh, so long! The east coast seems to move a little faster during this process. This is definitely a top choice for me. I have an interview at my other top choice and am worried I'm going to have to put down a deposit before I hear from RVU. I guess that is counting my chickens before they hatch though. Thanks for the input!
 
dreday710 said:
Oh, so long! The east coast seems to move a little faster during this process. This is definitely a top choice for me. I have an interview at my other top choice and am worried I'm going to have to put down a deposit before I hear from RVU. I guess that is counting my chickens before they hatch though. Thanks for the input!
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Well if you get into the other school before you interview no problem. Pay the deposit and if RVU is really your first choice then interview. If RVU likes you as much as you like it the the only thing you have lost is your deposit. No biggie and you give someone on the waitlist at the other school a spot.
 
jsmith522 said:
Well if you get into the other school before you interview no problem. Pay the deposit and if RVU is really your first choice then interview. If RVU likes you as much as you like it the the only thing you have lost is your deposit. No biggie and you give someone on the waitlist at the other school a spot.
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losing the deposit at a school that is not your #1 is worth getting to go to your #1, so i agree. i think a lot of deposits are around 1-2 grand right? of course that is a lot of money, but in the longer term it's really not. just hope that anyone in this situation has the financial freedom in order to lose out on that deposit. i think it is definitely worth almost anything (legal) to be able to come up with the RVU (or insert your #1 school name here) deposit.
 
Since a majority of those who interview get in, what are they looking for in the interview? to see if you're a "people person"?
 
mpjhballer8 said:
Since a majority of those who interview get in, what are they looking for in the interview? to see if you're a "people person"?
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They are looking to see if you fit with the personality of the school. They want a collaborative family of students. So really it's about fit and showing the desire to be there at RVU and to be an osteopathic physician. For you it's all about whether you think that you will fit in with the school. Hope that this helps.
 
VanEman said:
Note for those who are not biology majors. Rocky Vista requires 12 semester units of biology, unlike the 8 required at most schools, and 3 units of biochemistry before matriculation. No big deal for bio majors, but could be a decision factor for applicants who get accepted but would then have to take two more required classes before matriculation.
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I am a nontraditional major. I took two semesters of Gen Bio with Lab so 8 semester hours. I received an ii so I must have completed the requirements. Does Anatomy count as Biology credit hours?
 
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wv_girl said:
I am a nontraditional major. I took two semesters of Gen Bio with Lab so 8 semester hours. I received an ii so I must have completed the requirements. Does Anatomy count as Biology credit hours?
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Did you receive an interview recently? If so, when were you complete. Thanks!
 
What is the schedule for testing here? Also, will interviews in January be for the waitlist? Thanks!
 
dreday710 said:
What is the schedule for testing here? Also, will interviews in January be for the waitlist? Thanks!
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We test about every 2 weeks or so. I enjoy our testing schedule, because we don't have ridiculous amounts of info on each test, but we also aren't always preparing for tests. And no, interviews in January will still be for open seats.
 
I just checked it now and its working, I was getting the 404 error
 
justrolandalong said:
secondary was complete 10/20. interview invite 11/11
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Very nice, for some odd reason I cant see my complete date, my letter were all in by 11/7 but my submission was on 10/27. I hope my turn around is as quick as yours
 
Is there a cafe/place to get food/caffeine in the building? Is there now a gym? Good study facilities? 24 hour studying place available nearby?
 
dreday710 said:
Is there a cafe/place to get food/caffeine in the building? Is there now a gym? Good study facilities? 24 hour studying place available nearby?
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Yes to good studying facilities. The school is really the only 24 hour studying place in the area. The grocery stores are open 24 hours, and many have chairs and tables, but I've never tried actually studying there. Sadly, very little of Parker is open 24 hours.

justrolandalong said:
Is attendance required for all classes?
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Some specialized classes are mandatory- clinically integrated sessions and basic science correlations. Most classes, though (maybe 75-80%), are not mandatory. All classes are videotaped and posted online.
 
Did anyone pick RVUCOM over other acceptances? Can you tell me your decision process?
 
Does anyone know how long the 3rd and 4th year students generally stay in a certain location for rotations?
 
lbw0421 said:
Does anyone know how long the 3rd and 4th year students generally stay in a certain location for rotations?
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This really varies. Each of the core rotations is 8 weeks long, but generally is broken up into two 4 week blocks. However, it's possible you could end up at the same place for multiple rotations. For example, you could end up at Denver area hospitals for the whole third year. It just really depends.
 
dreday710 said:
Did anyone pick RVUCOM over other acceptances? Can you tell me your decision process?
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I did choose RVU over several other acceptances. So for the other schools the first choice was location for me and the family. That narrowed the field down to four schools. I liked DMU but the location sucked for me. AT Still Arizona didn't work for me because I didn't like the idea of community centers starting at year 2 and the distance learning module. COMP- NW was a great school and the program seemed like a great program what got me out was the cost. It was like 15k more for tuition alone. Then PNWU was probably my hardest decision but again it came down cost of attendance (higher for years 3&4) and the way the program taught the basic medicine. I like how RVU teaches first the normal pathophysiology for the first year and then the disease process for the second year. Essentially you will touch each system three times when you study for the boards at RVU verses two in the other programs and some body systems that you might have seen two years earlier when you first started. Hope that helps but it did suck making that tough decision. I would say that you are lucky though that you get a choice many people out there don't get the opportunity to choose or even get in.

But part of my other post I paid the deposit today, good luck all and hopefully I will see you all this coming summer/fall.
 
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Haxx said:
This really varies. Each of the core rotations is 8 weeks long, but generally is broken up into two 4 week blocks. However, it's possible you could end up at the same place for multiple rotations. For example, you could end up at Denver area hospitals for the whole third year. It just really depends.
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Thanks, I appreciate it. I have a family so I'm just trying to figure out how often I will have to move during my 3rd and 4th years if I decide to come here.
 
So I had an interview on 10/15 and got wait-listed. Do you think it would be ok to call to see what number I am on the waitlist, or is it some other type of method they pick from the wait-list.
 
Any current students/Denver natives have any insight or suggestions for housing? I've heard the Parker area is more pricey...
 
justrolandalong said:
Any current students/Denver natives have any insight or suggestions for housing? I've heard the Parker area is more pricey...
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I'm a current OMS-I, and my wife and I live in a house that's in Aurora off of 225 and colfax (about a 25 minute drive from school). We have 3 bedrooms and 1 bath with about 1200 square ft. and a large fenced in back yard. We pay $1400 per month with all utilities and services included (including lawn care and landscaping). You have to decide what you value. If you want space and more bedrooms, living a little farther from school will drastically reduce your price. BUT, if you want convenience, getting an apartment with a few classmates 3-5 minutes from school is totally doable. I would say it's about 80% students who have apartments nearby, and 20% those who have families or want more space or want to live closer to downtown that have places 15-30 mins away from school.
 
rejected post-secondary
3.7 cGPA 3.64 sGPA
24 MCAT with pending scores.. so not sure why they didn't wait. I am thinking I will contact them and ask since they say they accept up to January MCAT
bio and spanish degrees
3 bouts abroad, two were mission work, one was a semester abroad for my spanish major
shadowing, clin volunteering, and non-clin volunteering are all consistent and > 100 hours
white male
trad applicant
complete 10/30/14


Thank you for your application to RVUCOM. We regret that due to the competitive nature of the applicant pool, we are not able to extend an interview offer to you this year. We hope that you find a school that is a great fit for you as you continue to pursue your goal of becoming a physician.
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cedarjet said:
So I had an interview on 10/15 and got wait-listed. Do you think it would be ok to call to see what number I am on the waitlist, or is it some other type of method they pick from the wait-list.
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RVU does not rank its alternate list. The fact that you were placed on the list means they still have an interest in you, otherwise you would have been denied. If RVU is your first choice, send the admissions office an email or write a letter letting them know that. It is also OK to "check in" every now and then with admissions as long as you don't make a pest of yourself 🙂
 
baxt1412 said:
rejected post-secondary
3.7 cGPA 3.64 sGPA
24 MCAT with pending scores.. so not sure why they didn't wait. I am thinking I will contact them and ask since they say they accept up to January MCAT
bio and spanish degrees
3 bouts abroad, two were mission work, one was a semester abroad for my spanish major
shadowing, clin volunteering, and non-clin volunteering are all consistent and > 100 hours
white male
trad applicant
complete 10/30/14
Click to expand...

They would have waited for your scores if it would have made a difference. Do you have recent upper division science courses? There are many reasons why you may not have been invited for an interview. The only way to know for sure is to contact admissions. Also remember that they are super selective in determining who to invite in. As a result, so far this year, the acceptance rate is 80%.
 
alijen said:
They would have waited for your scores if it would have made a difference. Do you have recent upper division science courses? There are many reasons why you may not have been invited for an interview. The only way to know for sure is to contact admissions. Also remember that they are super selective in determining who to invite in. As a result, so far this year, the acceptance rate is 80%.
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yes just graduated in may, so very recent upper division. how do they have any idea of how much my new MCAT would have made a difference...? for all they know I'm waiting on hearing back on a 45 lol 😛

I did contact them for some clarification. IDK if they do any appeals or if I should just close this door. Will report back.
 
baxt1412 said:
yes just graduated in may, so very recent upper division. how do they have any idea of how much my new MCAT would have made a difference...? for all they know I'm waiting on hearing back on a 45 lol 😛

I did contact them for some clarification. IDK if they do any appeals or if I should just close this door. Will report back.
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Close the door as it won't make a difference. Additionally given you were denied without waiting for an updated MCAT, even a perfect MCAT wouldn't have made a difference either.
 
alijen said:
Close the door as it won't make a difference. Additionally given you were denied without waiting for an updated MCAT, even a perfect MCAT wouldn't have made a difference either.
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weird. well i will wait out for their reply and see. idk what it could be... i don't have a sub 6 and am not below their suggested score. no red flags.

unless they just don't like my essays i guess who knows.

==edit==
do you work for RVUCOM?
 
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