Rosalind Franklin Interview

[md2b9886]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I just got an interview invitation for the end of March with Rosalind Franklin -- anyone else?🙂

 

[PistolPete]

No, but I wish I did! Congrats, and best of luck.

 

[IwanttobeanMD]

I just got an interview invitation for the end of March with Rosalind Franklin -- anyone else?🙂

Hey md2b9886, if you don't mind me asking, what were your stats? I'm hoping for an invite from Rosalind Franklin soon.

 

[dan1]

Hey I'm interested in the results for people here as well. Anyone wanna give their MDApplicant number?

 

[medking]

I just got an interview invitation for the end of March with Rosalind Franklin -- anyone else?🙂

Did you receive the "smaller pool" email before receiving your interview invite?

 

[MMdoM]

what do you guys think about Rosalind Franklin compared to other Chicago schools? like Rush? Or Temple (philadelphia)? I heard that there aren't very extensive facilities on campus, and for clinical experiences you ahve to travel to chicago proper. Thoughts?

 

[cleothecat]

The first year courses have an impressive amount of clinical correlation.

The M1 class this year appears to be well balanced, and quite cohesive.

The past years' Board scores and match lists have been impressive.

And the attendings from various hospitals in Chicago I have talked with say that the CMS students are well prepared.

Good luck!

 

[MaybeADoc]

what do you guys think about Rosalind Franklin compared to other Chicago schools? like Rush? Or Temple (philadelphia)? I heard that there aren't very extensive facilities on campus, and for clinical experiences you ahve to travel to chicago proper. Thoughts?

true about the facilities. they're nice, but not huge. since rfu is just graduate, most schools that have additional undergrad facilities to use.

oh, and most people don't travel downtown everyday during third and fourth years, they simply move there. i think most people like the idea of being downtown for the nightlife as well. a little more free time during those clinical years.

 

[nu2004]

what do you guys think about Rosalind Franklin compared to other Chicago schools? like Rush? Or Temple (philadelphia)? I heard that there aren't very extensive facilities on campus, and for clinical experiences you ahve to travel to chicago proper. Thoughts?

the location is depressing North Chicago - don't confuse this with the "real" Chicago. It's a 45 minute/hour drive north of the city center. the school itself is located along a stretch of local highway. the only things nearby are a gas station and a very large VA medical center complex that consists entirely of numbered buildings.

i'm not intentionally trying to paint a dismal picture; it's just that location is very important to me. all of the faculty that i spoke to were great, but the facilities left much to be desired.

this school is definitely a step below Rush. it is true that the third years go down to the city for their clinical rotations, which for the most part is excellent training.

 

[kastle6797]

Hey I'm interested in the results for people here as well. Anyone wanna give their MDApplicant number?

I just got an interview invitation from Chicago Med. School for April 16th. Check my mdapplicants for info

 

[crazy4clana]

the location is depressing North Chicago - don't confuse this with the "real" Chicago. It's a 45 minute/hour drive north of the city center. the school itself is located along a stretch of local highway. the only things nearby are a gas station and a very large VA medical center complex that consists entirely of numbered buildings.

North Chicago is not a bad area at all, infact it's very nice! And it's right next to Lake Forest, which is a really beautiful and nice area, lots of big houses and mansions. I think it's ranked the second richest town in the US. You can also take the metra which will take you to Chicago in about a half an hour, really easy traveling.

 

[spilledmilk]

I did not find the North Chicago location to be depressing at all. Driving 30 minutes to find entertainment on the weekends is hardly an inconvenience.

 

[nu2004]

I did not find the North Chicago location to be depressing at all. Driving 30 minutes to find entertainment on the weekends is hardly an inconvenience.

yes, it must seem very metropolitan to one coming from Nevada. 🙂 i kid.

to each his own, absolutely. i would never discourage someone from taking an interview because I thought the area was bad. however, for students who are coming from metro areas where they are used to having interesting coffee shops, book stores, etc. available by foot, North Chicago is serious culture shock. and the drive is more than 30 minutes, and an EXORBITANT cab fare. most of the students i spoke with at RFU/CMS did not get out of North Chicago much until the third year.

 

[cleothecat]

My daughter is an M1 and she is far from bored in North Chicago.

Local entertainment and coffee shops (and bars) are a short drive away.

Several class get togethers have occurred at Chicago night spots.

And if you do not have a car, the CMS students are friendly enough to offer a ride.

Despite the "lack of entertainment right next door" the physicians RFU-CMS are producing appear to be well trained, and recognized as such during the match.

 

[crazy4clana]

to each his own, absolutely. i would never discourage someone from taking an interview because I thought the area was bad. however, for students who are coming from metro areas where they are used to having interesting coffee shops, book stores, etc. available by foot, North Chicago is serious culture shock. and the drive is more than 30 minutes, and an EXORBITANT cab fare. most of the students i spoke with at RFU/CMS did not get out of North Chicago much until the third year.

Did you not live in the suburbs at all? North Chicago is not different than any suburb near a big city. You can find anything there, you make it sound like it's in the middle of nowhere or something. 😕 And who would take a cab all the way to Chicago? That's crazy! Like I said, the metra train will get you there in a half-hour at the most.

 

[0101010101]

Actually, I live close to there and North Chicago is a total dump by the navy base. However, Lake Bluff and Lake Forest are within 10 mins drive and are some of the wealthiest communities in the nation. The metra will get you into the city but it is about an hour 10 mins.

 

[CMSMD2011]

"this school is definitely a step below Rush. it is true that the third years go down to the city for their clinical rotations, which for the most part is excellent training."

Sorry for posting on the pre-med section, but I just joined sdn and was searching for posts for RFUMS. I'm a first year student at RFU, and I guess I don't understand what makes RFU 'a step below' Rush. Could you qualify that? Our education is by MD's and PhD's from some of the most respected universities from across the country and world, and our board scores are some of the highest in the state - often as high or higher than Rush. Not to mention the match list is ridiculously impressive. The school is not state of the art like many other campuses, but since it's only grad school, there is not as much money flowing like a 30,000 student state school.

The only "step below" I can see is that it is, in fact, NOT at all in the city of Chicago. You do 2 years of classwork out in North Chicago, then almost everyone moves to the city for rotations. This is probably one of the top reasons I went to RFU. You will do things at city hospitals your third and fourth year that many students won't do til residency. For example, someone in my advisory group (3rd year) was the one catching the baby during a delivery at Cook County - three times. A resident I shadowed at UW-Madison 2 summers ago got to WATCH 4 babies being born, and couldn't touch it because the mother put up such a fuss at the community hospital. (Money still talks like that, and you'll see more patients who just don't care at larger city hospitals).

 

[babi]

I attend cms and live in Evanston which has tons to offer. The drive to school is about 30 minutes which I do not mind at all. If you are concerned about traffic, you can also take the metra which will take you to school in 25-30 minutes as well. Many students live on campus and seem to be doing great. The class organizes a bus every now and then and everyone go on a night out in Chicago. M1 is quite cohesive and know how to enjoy the little breaks we do get. Besides, most students do not complain about the location because you really do not have much time to do anything else but studying.
good luck everyone

p.s I will not respond to the comment about Rush and cms because it is plain dumb. Both schools will get you where you want as a physician. enough said.

 

[nu2004]

rah rah CMS

I'm not trying to knock your school, I was simply trying to be helpful to MMdoM who was asking for opinions. I had an excellent interview experience at RFU and loved my interviewers, but I found the school lacking in many ways (and as I've mentioned, I have a heavy bias for location). I don't think my opinion is especially unusual re: the perceived difference between Rush and RFU. I mean, it wasn't that long ago that CMS was fighting for its accreditation.

But you're true to your school; I respect that.

 

[PistolPete]

Not to hijack this thread, but does anyone know how often RFU's Adcom meets? Is it once a month? And is there any hope of getting an interview invite at this point?

 

[scoobitu]

All I can say is that I had the second to last interview at CMS last year and it was for April 10. I got my e-mail around this time

Good luck to you

 

[westphi]

All I can say is that I had the second to last interview at CMS last year and it was for April 10. I got my e-mail around this time

Good luck to you

were you in-state or oos? thanks!

 

[etf]

The first year courses have an impressive amount of clinical correlation.

The M1 class this year appears to be well balanced, and quite cohesive.

The past years' Board scores and match lists have been impressive.

And the attendings from various hospitals in [insert city] I have talked with say that the [insert school] students are well prepared.

Good luck!

every medical school in the country says this.

 

[crazy4clana]

^ Yeah, but RFU has the board scores and residency placements to back it up.

I'm not trying to knock your school, I was simply trying to be helpful to MMdoM who was asking for opinions. I had an excellent interview experience at RFU and loved my interviewers, but I found the school lacking in many ways (and as I've mentioned, I have a heavy bias for location). I don't think my opinion is especially unusual re: the perceived difference between Rush and RFU. I mean, it wasn't that long ago that CMS was fighting for its accreditation.

But you're true to your school; I respect that.

Give it a rest with the accreditation already, it was for FUNDING. Nothing to do with the quality of education you receive at RFU. You keep posting that but it proves nothing.

 

[scoobitu]

were you in-state or oos? thanks!

Funny you asked

I am actually an international student from Belgium

<-- Look at the flag

 

[PistolPete]

Sweet. That still gives me a tiny bit of hope. I'm an international student also. Not from Belgium though!

 

[Moniker]

I'm not trying to knock your school, I was simply trying to be helpful to MMdoM who was asking for opinions. I had an excellent interview experience at RFU and loved my interviewers, but I found the school lacking in many ways (and as I've mentioned, I have a heavy bias for location). I don't think my opinion is especially unusual re: the perceived difference between Rush and RFU. I mean, it wasn't that long ago that CMS was fighting for its accreditation.

But you're true to your school; I respect that.

"fighting for accreditation"? Every school is fighting for accreditation and has to be constantly vigilant. you (and other ridiculous premeds) make it sound like it's the rarest thing and the biggest black mark a school could sustain....jesus. it happens more often than you premeds would think, and we're very fortunate that the reasons weren't largely education-related at all...they were mostly funding-related (grants, tuition, etc.). and yeah well, the issue was resolved (and in record time, i might add).

Temple was on probation in 2003
http://philadelphia.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2004/02/09/daily6.html

Univ. of Hawaii was on probation in 2002
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Jun/24/ln/ln08a.html

Drexel Univ. (or Allegheny...didn't get the full story) had accreditation problems a few years back.
http://www.amsa.org/tnp/articles/article.cfx?id=308

Univ. of Saskatchewan was on probation in 2002
http://www.usask.ca/communications/ocn/05-oct-21/viewpoint1.shtml

Stanford (yes, Stanford) Univ. was nearly put on probation in 1999
http://daily.stanford.edu/article/1999/4/6/medSchoolBarelyEscapesProbation

If you have problems with our school, feel free to state them, and we'll politely discuss. or if you want to voice your (premed) opinions, great, do so. we'll do the same. but until you're a program director in a strong, desirable residency program, we couldn't care less what you think. i advise other premeds to be wary of the rumor mill and the ridiculous things it propagates.

 

[nu2004]

Give it a rest with the accreditation already, it was for FUNDING. Nothing to do with the quality of education you receive at RFU. You keep posting that but it proves nothing.

Pretty sure that's the only time I've posted it. Defensive much?

you (and other ridiculous premeds) ... you premeds ... your (premed) opinions

I love that "premed" is your Big Bingo Debate Winner. Yeah, call 'em a premed! That's the ultimate retort! If I click on "My Account" and change my status to "Medical Student," will you be nicer to me?

If you have problems with our school, feel free to state them

I've stated my "problems" with your school plainly in this thread. The facilities are lacking, the location is absolutely terrible, and (apparently) it's populated with jagoffs like you.

we'll politely discuss.

I can already tell you aren't capable of that.

 

[Moniker]

I love that "premed" is your Big Bingo Debate Winner. Yeah, call 'em a premed! That's the ultimate retort! If I click on "My Account" and change my status to "Medical Student," will you be nicer to me?

Again, we probably won't take your denigrating comments seriously until you're a program director. Not sure how you missed that point, but it's possible that it's because you're a premed (one more time for good measure). That said, of course you're welcome to post opinion as an applicant, which can be valuable for fellow applicants. However, there's a lot of folks who've been here for years now (instead of a day for an interview) who are reflecting on their experience that the issues you raise are largely insignificant for students and testify to their education. The take home message for anyone reading this thread is to take (anyone's, including mine) opinions with a grain of salt...but I think the fact that CMS students tend to show up in droves to dispell rumors like the ones (again) brought up on this thread should tell you something.

I've stated my "problems" with your school plainly in this thread. The facilities are lacking, the location is absolutely terrible, and (apparently) it's populated with jagoffs like you.

Cool. Sounds like you made the right decision for yourself. So did we. Personally, I think the facilities are pretty good (no complaints), location is fine (again, this was an issue for you and that's respectable), and indeed, it is populated by jagoffs like me. Makes me feel at home. Not sure what was so "jagoff" about me, but I'll take your word for it.

I can already tell you aren't capable of that.

Well, you'll forgive me if I don't take your word on this. Best of luck in med school.


To get the thread back on track, if anyone has any questions, feel free to PM.

 

[nu2004]

Not sure what was so "jagoff" about me, but I'll take your word for it.

Color me unsurprised.

/thread participation

 

[Kasuku]

I just got an invitation to interview in early April. I didn't think invitations came out this late, so I was pretty excited! I will reserve all judgements about locations and facilities until after I've been up there, but I'm hoping to be impressed...🙂

Good luck, everyone!

 

[PistolPete]

Wow, congrats! Were you placed in the "smaller pool" prior to interview? And did you send in any updates?

 

[MaybeADoc]

not sure nu2004 deserved that post moniker. after reading his posts, they were fair and not hateful. however, nu2004, realize that while that may be one of a few posts you made about CMS, there are literally dozens on here. It gets old. Last week some guy posted a bunch of smack about CMS, basically turned away applicants, because of misinformation he got from his parents. Anyway, keep the rest of the posts on topic, CMS/non-CMS alike.



anyway, applicants, i happen to know that there are interview dates through April 30th now.

 

[Kasuku]

Wow, congrats! Were you placed in the "smaller pool" prior to interview? And did you send in any updates?

My invitation to interview didn't say anything about a "smaller pool", so I'm not sure about that. Maybe I'll find out more when I get there. Right now, I'm just excited about having an interview!

And no, I didn't send in any updates...

 

[MCATMAN45]

I just got an interview invite for May. Think I'm just interviewing for a spot on the waitlist?

 

[Moniker]

I just got an interview invite for May. Think I'm just interviewing for a spot on the waitlist?

I think at most if not all schools you'd be interviewing for a spot on the waitlist in May. That said, a spot on the waitlist doesn't necessarily mean less of a chance of getting in. I mean at most schools with somewhat larger class sizes (CMS included), if you are near the top of the waitlist, you're as good as in (typically).

 

[babi]

I just got an interview invite for May. Think I'm just interviewing for a spot on the waitlist?

I interviewed last May and got the acceptance letter two weeks after. I know a bunch of people who interviewed with me that day got in as well. Good luck.

 

[Moniker]

I interviewed last May and got the acceptance letter two weeks after. I know a bunch of people who interviewed with me that day got in as well. Good luck.

Nice! ok I stand corrected - i guess I'll change my position to say - the class may not be full, but even if the class is currently full, they may have a spot to offer you when the adcom meets next (by the sounds of it).

 

[bishr]

"fighting for accreditation"? Every school is fighting for accreditation and has to be constantly vigilant. you (and other ridiculous premeds) make it sound like it's the rarest thing and the biggest black mark a school could sustain....jesus. it happens more often than you premeds would think, and we're very fortunate that the reasons weren't largely education-related at all...they were mostly funding-related (grants, tuition, etc.). and yeah well, the issue was resolved (and in record time, i might add).

Temple was on probation in 2003
http://philadelphia.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2004/02/09/daily6.html

Univ. of Hawaii was on probation in 2002
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Jun/24/ln/ln08a.html

Drexel Univ. (or Allegheny...didn't get the full story) had accreditation problems a few years back.
http://www.amsa.org/tnp/articles/article.cfx?id=308

Univ. of Saskatchewan was on probation in 2002
http://www.usask.ca/communications/ocn/05-oct-21/viewpoint1.shtml

Stanford (yes, Stanford) Univ. was nearly put on probation in 1999
http://daily.stanford.edu/article/1999/4/6/medSchoolBarelyEscapesProbation

If you have problems with our school, feel free to state them, and we'll politely discuss. or if you want to voice your (premed) opinions, great, do so. we'll do the same. but until you're a program director in a strong, desirable residency program, we couldn't care less what you think. i advise other premeds to be wary of the rumor mill and the ridiculous things it propagates.

As an aside, when I interviewed at Yale, the dean of the medical school told us they too were extremely anxious about prospective accreditation problems with their curriculum structure, but all was fine in the end. Maybe LCME likes to keep medical schools on their toes (not a bad idea)!!!

Most patients don't give a flying F where their doctor went to school, plus LCME accreditation standards are so high that its not gonna make an ounce of difference where you received your education. A great education is based more on individual study ethic than institutional prestige.

 

[ziggy10]

I was interviewed at CMS on April 14. A person at the admissions informed us that the class is not yet full.