Rowan University (RowanSOM) Discussion Thread 2015 - 2016

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Hello,

I am new to the forum, so I hope I am posting in the appropriate place.

I just realized that Rowan SOM requires behavioral science classes, which I could not take during undergrad because I did not have enough time. Does anybody happen to know if Rowan accepts online courses if they come from an accredited university? I am going to start working, so obviously it would make my life a lot easier if I do the classes online.

Thanks!
 
eyypianogirl31893 said:
Hello,

I am new to the forum, so I hope I am posting in the appropriate place.

I just realized that Rowan SOM requires behavioral science classes, which I could not take during undergrad because I did not have enough time. Does anybody happen to know if Rowan accepts online courses if they come from an accredited university? I am going to start working, so obviously it would make my life a lot easier if I do the classes online.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Incoming OMS-I for anyone who has other questions in the future 🙂

I'm not too sure about this one, but I would highly suggest just sending an email to the admissions office. Everyone there is quite friendly and responds back very quick!!
 
LuluMed said:
Incoming OMS-I for anyone who has other questions in the future 🙂

I'm not too sure about this one, but I would highly suggest just sending an email to the admissions office. Everyone there is quite friendly and responds back very quick!!
Click to expand...

I sent them an email last Thursday but they haven't gotten back to me yet...I hope they will soon though!
 
Hi everyone! I'm a very non-traditional applicant; I'm older and have a family, finished undergrad in 2010 (just took MCAT), 3.59 BCPM/ 3.63 cum, well over a decade of experience as a healthcare professional and good ECs/research/publications. Rowan is definitely my top choice. Is there any advantage to applying early decision, or am I better off just applying broadly, as seems to be the consensus for allopathic schools?
 
Hello! DO hopeful with Rowan being my top choice! Stats (3.67 cGPA/3.5 sGPA/ 31 MCAT) for AACOMAS...for AMCAS it is (3.71 cGPA/ 3.65 BCPM/ 31 MCAT.) Too bad AACOMAS makes it more difficult for Rutgers students because plus grades only count as .3, not .5 like in Rutgers where grades are only half-step.

njtrimed said:
Hi everyone! I'm a very non-traditional applicant; I'm older and have a family, finished undergrad in 2010 (just took MCAT), 3.59 BCPM/ 3.63 cum, well over a decade of experience as a healthcare professional and good ECs/research/publications. Rowan is definitely my top choice. Is there any advantage to applying early decision, or am I better off just applying broadly, as seems to be the consensus for allopathic schools?
Click to expand...

Depends on your MCAT score. Don't apply early decision, just in case you don't get accepted into RowanSOM. You would have a late application by then. You're taking a bigger risk.
 
njtrimed said:
Hi everyone! I'm a very non-traditional applicant; I'm older and have a family, finished undergrad in 2010 (just took MCAT), 3.59 BCPM/ 3.63 cum, well over a decade of experience as a healthcare professional and good ECs/research/publications. Rowan is definitely my top choice. Is there any advantage to applying early decision, or am I better off just applying broadly, as seems to be the consensus for allopathic schools?
Click to expand...

My suggestion would be to apply broadly and submit all your applications asap. There are people non-early decision that are still accepted as early as october. So just trust the process to ensure you get in somewhere. Depending on what your MCAT is - you have a solid shot at getting an interview at RowanSOM!
 
Thanks for the input! Just got the preliminary percentiles back and I think I'm in decent shape in the 80th to 90th percentile range. Good luck, everyone!
mathnerd88 said:
Hello! DO hopeful with Rowan being my top choice! Stats (3.67 cGPA/3.5 sGPA/ 31 MCAT) for AACOMAS...for AMCAS it is (3.71 cGPA/ 3.65 BCPM/ 31 MCAT.) Too bad AACOMAS makes it more difficult for Rutgers students because plus grades only count as .3, not .5 like in Rutgers where grades are only half-step.
Click to expand...
How did it work out that your AACOMAS is actually lower? I thought AACOMAS was more forgiving in that they allow retakes and factor in all science classes, and that both of them used the same scale (3.7 = A-, 3.3 = B+)?
 
njtrimed said:
How did it work out that your AACOMAS is actually lower? I thought AACOMAS was more forgiving in that they allow retakes and factor in all science classes, and that both of them used the same scale (3.7 = A-, 3.3 = B+)?
Click to expand...
Rutgers doesn't use the +/- system, and only uses + system to count half-step grades. It is most similar to the A, AB, B, BC system AACOMAS uses.

For example, a B+ for Rutgers is a 3.5, because there's no such thing as an A-. It goes A, B+, B, C+, C, etc.

So any plus grades becomes a .3 instead of a .5 at Rutgers. Everytime I get a B+, I get penalized as a 3.3 on AACOMAS when it really should be 3.5
 
Wait, so you're saying a B+ is calculated as 3.5 with AMCAS? If that's true, that definitely helps my AMCAS GPA! I calculated it using 3.3 for B+.

ETA: You're in great shape for both applications, regardless!
 
njtrimed said:
Wait, so you're saying a B+ is calculated as 3.5 with AMCAS? If that's true, that definitely helps my AMCAS GPA! I calculated it using 3.3 for B+.

ETA: You're in great shape for both applications, regardless!
Click to expand...

Yes, AMCAS calculates it as a 3.5 because they don't differentiate letter with the actual weight. They look at your transcript and will find out that Rutgers uses half-step grading system. For DO, they only just care about the actual letter grade and assign their own pre-determined weight, which puts you at a disadvantage.

If your school does do a +/- system, then this doesn't apply.
 
mathnerd88 said:
Yes, AMCAS calculates it as a 3.5 because they don't differentiate letter with the actual weight. They look at your transcript and will find out that Rutgers uses half-step grading system. For DO, they only just care about the actual letter grade and assign their own pre-determined weight, which puts you at a disadvantage.

If your school does do a +/- system, then this doesn't apply.
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Ah, understood. If it makes you feel any better, an A at my first college was 96-100%, and A- was 90-96%, regardless of whether anyone actually scored over 96%. The +/- system has its disadvantages too!
 
njtrimed said:
Ah, understood. If it makes you feel any better, an A at my first college was 96-100%, and A- was 90-96%, regardless of whether anyone actually scored over 96%. The +/- system has its disadvantages too!
Click to expand...

Oh that's true, but it still makes your AACOMAS GPA lower when they do already count A, AB, B, BC as the same system as my college just the lettering is different.

Makes it not fair at all.
 
mathnerd88 said:
What are your stats?
Click to expand...

Not sure what my official Aacomas gpa will be yet, but it's somewhere around 3.5 to 3.6, with science being slightly higher than cumulative. MCAT is a 26. 7P/10B/9V

NJ resident, pretty good LOR, decent EC but nothing too outstanding. Just overall pretty run-of-the-mill lol.
 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx said:
Not sure what my official Aacomas gpa will be yet, but it's somewhere around 3.5 to 3.6, with science being slightly higher than cumulative. MCAT is a 26. 7P/10B/9V

NJ resident, pretty good LOR, decent EC but nothing too outstanding. Just overall pretty run-of-the-mill lol.
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you are definitely not a reach as a NJ resident. Get your application in asap and hope for the best. you have a decent shot at getting in depending on your ECs
 
LuluMed said:
you are definitely not a reach as a NJ resident. Get your application in asap and hope for the best. you have a decent shot at getting in depending on your ECs
Click to expand...

Really? Everyone hates my MCAT score, I think that's what drags me down the most. Their average is 28.

My EC aren't amazing, but I've done volunteer work for disaster relief, volunteered at a nursing home, shadowed two or three different MD, soon to shadow a DO,was a TA, some research, and I work in a pharmacy.

I think everything I've done is pretty standard for their applicants, and I feel especially bad after seeing everyone else's stats on this board lol.

But I'm definitely not complaining, we'll just have to see what happens.
 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx said:
Really? Everyone hates my MCAT score, I think that's what drags me down the most. Their average is 28.

My EC aren't amazing, but I've done volunteer work for disaster relief, volunteered at a nursing home, shadowed two or three different MD, soon to shadow a DO,was a TA, some research, and I work in a pharmacy.

I think everything I've done is pretty standard for their applicants, and I feel especially bad after seeing everyone else's stats on this board lol.

But I'm definitely not complaining, we'll just have to see what happens.
Click to expand...

Well, your MCAT is a little bit on the low side, but keep in mind that the average is 28. There will be plenty of people who get in with 30+ and plenty of people who get in with 26, averaging them to 28. Being a resident of NJ does give you a lot of favors.

Make sure you apply early. I've already submitted my apps and was verified this past Friday. Hopefully you have done something similar. Being early definitely helps since all these schools are rolling admissions.
 
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I submitted my app, and I'm just waiting now for two more of my transcripts (one should be there tomorrow). I think I will be verified on or before July 1st...do you think I've missed the boat?
 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx said:
I submitted my app, and I'm just waiting now for two more of my transcripts (one should be there tomorrow). I think I will be verified on or before July 1st...do you think I've missed the boat?
Click to expand...

Nah, you should be fine. I would've suggested you submit as soon as AACOMAS marks the transcripts as received so you have more time to polish up your application. Right now it looks like they take about 10 days to verify the application, and that may increase as time goes on with more influx of applications.

Not sure why many people on this forum keeps saying that AACOMAS application process is a different beast than AMCAS in terms of when you apply and that it is okay to apply later for AACOMAS. It isn't. Interviews are being offered starting around the same dates for both AMCAS and AACOMAS, so those SDNer's must be wrong.
 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx said:
I submitted my app, and I'm just waiting now for two more of my transcripts (one should be there tomorrow). I think I will be verified on or before July 1st...do you think I've missed the boat?
Click to expand...
you are totally fine. the only thing that matters is when that whole application gets marked as complete (secondary included). you are still at the beginning of the process with plenty of time. This past year my file wasn't completed til november and I was still accepted before christmas.

Look at last year's secondary prompts and start writing responses to those in the mean time so you can get that application done asap once RowanSOM sends out the secondaries!
 
What kind of ties would an OOS applicant need? I haven't lived in NJ, but all of my extended family is there, spread across the state, and I visit there every year. I was born in Trenton, NJ but moved from there when I was just 3.
 
At the open house earlier this year, admissions indicated that there would be little change regarding the prompts for the secondary. Pending official release for this cycle, here are last cycle's prompts.

Question 1 (Required):

Explain the process by which you decided that osteopathic medicine was right for you?


Question 2 (Required):

How does the osteopathic profession fit into your professional goals and values?


Question 3 (Optional):

Please describe any significant barriers or challenges you may have overcome in the pursuit of your personal/professional goals.

750 word limit.
Click to expand...
 
Sob21 said:
What kind of ties would an OOS applicant need? I haven't lived in NJ, but all of my extended family is there, spread across the state, and I visit there every year. I was born in Trenton, NJ but moved from there when I was just 3.
Click to expand...

That's better than nothing. I don't live in NJ anymore, but I have strong ties to NJ (lived there for 23 years, parents still live there, trying to reclaim residency there this year.)

I put my address as my parents' NJ address hoping to gain in-state status.
 
Anyone else interested in research at Rowan? If I end up here I might try to enter the DO/PhD program, or the MSc program.
 
MedBlue515 said:
anyone get a secondary yet?
Click to expand...

As of Monday, the admissions staff hasn't looked at anyone's primaries yet. They were going to have a meeting with the entire admissions commitee, sort out just how to access all the applications, and discuss how to judge new MCAT scores.

They do not screen applications though, everyone gets a secondary. I think they said the secondaries are going to be sent out starting either late this week or next week.
 
Just want to say that if you are around the averages and worried about your stats, I'd encourage you all still to apply. I had terrible anxiety about this when applying. I was accepted here for the entering 2015 class (Class of 2019). The school is amazing so far. Everyone here is so helpful. We are almost done the first week of pre-matriculation and I couldn't be happier that I applied here.

I don't mean to sound corny, or give false hope, but you have a chance and you should take it. Hearing this sort of advice is rare on these boards, most people condemn you for any blemish on your stats. I just want to make sure people know that it is okay to not be a perfect person in numbers.

Good luck and feel free to ask me any questions and I'll try my best to answer.
 
This is my first choice. IS reapplicant. 3.1x cgpa 3.6x sgpa 31 MCAT. hoping for some underdog love!
 
Does anyone have this year's secondary application prompts? If so, can you please post them?
 
mathnerd88 said:
Were you offered any interviews anywhere in last year's cycle?
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Unfortunately no, I didn't apply to that many schools (less than 10) and was complete very late (Oct/Nov). I went 0 for everything, no IIs anywhere. Feeling more confident this year- I'm already verified and I prewrote a lot of secondaries so hoping for a better cycle.
 
ClassicJandT said:
Unfortunately no, I didn't apply to that many schools (less than 10) and was complete very late (Oct/Nov). I went 0 for everything, no IIs anywhere. Feeling more confident this year- I'm already verified and I prewrote a lot of secondaries so hoping for a better cycle.
Click to expand...

You applied to all osteopathic schools? No allopathic? I don't think being complete by Oct/Nov is super late.

I believe it could be your cGPA that's making your application not look as stellar. Your sGPA and MCAT are excellent. Perhaps your 10+ withdrawals are also doing you in too.
 
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Aresus said:
Does anyone have this year's secondary application prompts? If so, can you please post them?
Click to expand...

I don't think this year's secondaries have gone out yet. Another user reported that admissions mentioned at this year's open house that the prompts won't be changing much. From @zylstrajs Thanks!
The prompts from last year are:
Question 1 (Required):
Explain the process by which you decided that osteopathic medicine was right for you?
Question 2 (Required):
How does the osteopathic profession fit into your professional goals and values?
Question 3 (Optional):
Please describe any significant barriers or challenges you may have overcome in the pursuit of your personal/professional goals.
750 word limit
 
Last edited:
mathnerd88 said:
You applied to all osteopathic schools? No allopathic? I don't think being complete by Oct/Nov is super late.

I believe it could be your cGPA that's making your application not look as stellar. Your sGPA and MCAT are excellent. Perhaps your 10+ withdrawals are also doing you in too.
Click to expand...

Yes, applied to DO schools only. My cGPA drags me down big time but not much I can do about it any more at this point. The withdrawals were from nearly a decade ago. I made a huge academic comeback and have around a 3.8 cgpa/sgpa over the last 120+ credits. We'll see what happens, but I think I stand an okay chance at getting in somewhere this year.
 
ClassicJandT said:
I don't think this year's secondaries have gone out yet. Another user reported that admissions mentioned at this year's open house that the prompts won't be changing much. From @zylstrajs Thanks!
The prompts from last year are:
Question 1 (Required):
Explain the process by which you decided that osteopathic medicine was right for you?
Question 2 (Required):
How does the osteopathic profession fit into your professional goals and values?
Question 3 (Optional):
Please describe any significant barriers or challenges you may have overcome in the pursuit of your personal/professional goals.
750 word limit
Click to expand...
Oh ok, thanks.
 
Aresus said:
Can you please post the prompts?
Click to expand...

Required Essays
How did you learn about osteopathic medicine and why is it a good fit for you?

Optional Essay

Please describe any significant barriers or challenges you may have overcome in the pursuit of your personal/professional goals.

750 word limit for each
 
There are also some Yes/No questions. If you answer YES, then a box pops up to elaborate/answer another question.

Please identify your area of professional interest below (i.e. Family Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, etc.) (500 word limit)

Have you previously applied to SOM?

Have you previously attended medical school?

Have you met with a SOM admissions representative or attended an event on our campus?

Have you ever participated in a SOM Pre-College Program?

Do you speak any other languages?

Have you shadowed or worked with an Osteopathic Physician?
If yes, will that physician provide you with a letter of recommendation?

Have you participated in significant research projects that have led to publication?
If yes, asks for citations/DOI number.
(Not sure if this means personal publications or publications within the research lab in general -- anyone have an idea??)

Do you have relatives who are currently attending or have graduated from RowanSOM (formerly UMDNJ-SOM)?
 
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