RVU-COM (Rocky Vista - Colorado) Interview Discussion thread

[Unknown3234]

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Awesome and goodluck, lets us know how it goes.



Also, I was wondering if this school is allowed to take advantage of the military scholarships?

 

[tobe945]

I interview there next week on the 12th (Monday), and am really excited. Anyone who has interviewed there, a PM with advice/insight would be appreciated.

As far as I understand, the school is not eligible for Stafford loans until it has been fully accredited. Until then, as the site says, students are eligible for military scholarship--and this school would be a great one to use it for.

 

[Gene Genie]

CSU PreMed, what IS the dress code? We had to sign an agreement that we would adhere to it, but they never told us what is was! I'm guessing that its business casual - I'm sure they want us to look as classy as the new school looks!😀

I'm excited for you - you'll find that EVERYONE is just as welcoming and helpful as the admissions counsellor was.

Unknown3234, you can apply for the Health Professionals Scholarship through the military. They go into that when you meet with the financial aid office.

I'm excited, too. It is my #1 choice also - I get to stay in Denver and help make the school the best it can possibly be (you too!) 🙂👍

 

[gasapple]

I'd be curious as to the dress code for RVU as well?

I think scrubs should always be allowed at the professional school level, especially based on anatomy labs - but that's neither here nor there I suppose...

 

[Gene Genie]

I'd be OK with scrubs. I actually think that is would be great if we wore scrubs - they're cheap and comfortable.

I wear them everyday in my lab!

 

[gasapple]

I'd be OK with scrubs. I actually think that is would be great if we wore scrubs - they're cheap and comfortable.

I wear them everyday in my lab!

Ditto! 👍

 

[ChristianDoc]

I have been in touch with one of their admissions counselors and she has been BY FAR the nicest and most helpful one of any school I have been to so far.

🙂

I agree, she is extremely helpful and nice!! Everytime I email her a question she replys with an answer within an hour.
Here is the dress code from their student handbook.

"

For male students:​

•​

Slacks or pants​

•​

Shirt with collar​

•​

Dress shirt​

•​

Sweater​

•​

Sports coat​

•​

Suit​

•​

Necktie​

•​

Dress shoes
For female students:​

•​

Slacks, pants, dress or skirt​

•​

Suit​

•​

Professionally appropriate
blouse/sweater​

•​

Scarf​

•​

Dress shoes
Students may not wear the following:​

•​

Shorts or cutoffs​

•​

Mini skirts (higher than mid-thigh)​

•​

Jeans of any type (denim, corduroy, etc)​

•​

See-through clothing, shirts or blouses that allow exposure of the
abdomen, or halter tops​

•​

Sandals, flip-flops, croc's, or any open toed shoe​

•​

T-shirts of any type may not be worn as the outer shirt​

•​

Jogging or exercise clothing​

•​

Garments with any offensive, suggestive, obscene, or unprofessional
statements or gestures​

•​

Hats, caps, or head coverings other than religious coverings may not be
worn in the class room, laboratory or other educational settings.
Scrubs may not be worn outside of the OMM, Anatomy or Clinical Practicum
Laboratory.​

 

[Gene Genie]

Crap! Sounds like business casual to me...

At least we'll all look good...even if we won't be well-respected medical students!

 

[gasapple]

I'm certain I've interacted with the RVU counselor of which you speak; She's very helpful and prompt with her replies! 👍

 

[gasapple]

As per the standard SDN Medical Interview Feedback section (DATABASES/MEDICAL/US SCHOOLS), please add a subsection for RVU interviewees to provide feedback. Thanks.

Those of you who have interviewed at RVU, please provide feedback at your earliest convenience. 👍

 

[medicalbound]

Congratulations all with the interviews and acceptances! I've got a friend who will be interviewing there next week and it's exciting to hear your enthusiasm. Wow, no coffee in class or comfy clothes would be a bummer, but it's a small price to pay to become a doc and be here in Denver.

I was wondering, at which hospitals will you guys be doing your clinical rotations?

 

[katnap]

Hi,

I have an interview on Tuesday 13th November, 2007. Thanks to all who posted information so far. I'm looking forward to attending this school (assuming I get in and I can find funding). My stats are:

MCAT: Phy: 10, Verb: 10, Bio: 11, Writing: S

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (taken in England, so no GPA available).

Just finished pre-reqs up here in Fort Collins with a GPA of 4.0.

Nice to meet you all, and I hope to become future classmates with some of you.

Katrina.
(Non traditional)

 

[gasapple]

Hi,

I have an interview on Tuesday 13th November, 2007. Thanks to all who posted information so far. I'm looking forward to attending this school (assuming I get in and I can find funding). My stats are:

MCAT: Phy: 10, Verb: 10, Bio: 11, Writing: S

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (taken in England, so no GPA available).

Just finished pre-reqs up here in Fort Collins with a GPA of 4.0.

Nice to meet you all, and I hope to become future classmates with some of you.

Katrina.
(Non traditional)

Welcome to SDN and congratulations with regard to RVU! Please let us know your thoughts post-interview. There should also be an interview feedback area for RVU-COM (DATABASES/MEDICAL/US SCHOOLS) momentarily. Best to you and GOOD LUCK!

 

[Gene Genie]

(sorry, I was working)

First off, Katrina - sounds like your stats are very fitting of the new school. I'm excited to have you as a potential classmate! Good luck on your interview! And, don't worry - there is always a way to fund school (private loans, loan repayment options/scholarships).

These are the questions that were asked and my answers to the best of my ability:

1. Will we be able to get fixed interest loans?
Depends on the loan you go with. Yes, and interest rates for next year are set by Citi Bank, NelNet and SalleMae. They will discuss all of this when you meet with financial aid

2. What are the clinical rotations for 3rd and 4th years?
Standard core rotations with standard elective rotations.

Two months IM
One month Surgery
One month Peds
One month Women' Health
Two months FM
Two months Rural and Community Medicine
Three months of Medical Selective
Two month of surgical selective
One month of ER
One month of OMM
One month of ICU
4 months of Elective


3. What hours of operation will the school have?
School will be open from 6:00am until midnight and study areas will be available 24/7 at the school.

4. HOW MANY STUDENTS PER CADAVER? (PCOM usually has 5, but I was unlucky and got 6. It has been too crowded at my table.)
Four students in each team for the cadaver

5. How far will I have to travel for rotations?
All rotations are in the state of Colorado, and all are around a core hospital. Several are within one hour of the school (Denver, Colorado Springs) - the exception being the rural hospitals at which you are required to do one rotation.

6. Is there student housing... is there affordable housing in the vicinity?
No student housing... yet. But there are plenty of apartment complexes & other rental options in the area throughout a 3 miles circle around school

7. What's the curriculum? Integrated? Problem-based? Traditional?
Standard curriculum, with the added benefit of Genetics (amazing that not all programs offer this!) (I'm a little partial, though!) It is am integrated curriculum, utilizing both didactic and active learning using case based presentations.


8. Does the school intend to begin an OPTI program and open residencies at area hospitals?
Yes, first resident programs are scheduled to open in 2011 in Denver, Pueblo, Grand Junction and Colorado Springs. They said they would send me the "concrete" rotation options as soon as they are available.

9. How accessible is administration and faculty?
Open door policy, faculty mentors, and an amazingly helpful administration. Very accessible. The Dean said that the faculty will not be allowed to develop research/outside projects for the first years in order to provide the students, who do not have the benefit of upperclassmen, with mentorship and tutoring.

All very good questions. Anything else?

 

[gasapple]

(sorry, I was working)

These are the questions that were asked and my answers to the best of my ability:

Good information. I'll try to fill in some of the "unknowns" later as well.

 

[Gene Genie]

Updated my last post with ACCURATE, TRUE information found under a stone.😀

 

[gasapple]

Updated my last post with ACCURATE, TRUE information found under a stone.😀

👍

Very informative and great to know. Thank you.

 

[Obnoxious Dad]

Gene Genie,

You seem to be a spokesperon of sorts (official or unofficial) for RVU, so I have questions that maybe you (or anyone else) can answer.

1.) Why is it necessary for this school to be set up as a for profit institution?

I have been reading these threads for weeks griping about the for-profit status of Rocky Vista and I must say that a lot of you need to get a grip on reality. Rocky Vista is going to provide an additional 150 spots per year to people who will make fine physicians and will make it just that much easier for my daughter and all of you to achieve your dream.

The basic problem is that medical schools are extremely expensive enterprises requiring tremendous amounts of capital. Look at what happened at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh. They got provisional approval to open a DO school from the AOA and the State of Pennsylvania. The only problem was that nobody came forward with the money to capitalize it. This was especially telling when you consider that Pittsburgh is the home of many major corporations like Heinz and US Steel. Robert Morris has shelved its plans for a DO school.

If you read any of the articles by Richard Cooper, former dean of the Medical College of Wisconsin and now at the University of Pennsylvania, you will see that by the year 2020 the US will be about 200,000 physicians short. This guy has been calling it accurately for the last 20 years and I believe that he will be right again. We are going to need more doctors and if capitalism gets it done, so be it.

If you think for profit education is immoral, what do you think of the disastrous public schools in most major cities? What do you think of non-profit universities that exploit graduate students for a decade or more and then turn them out into a non-existent job market?

I say "hooray for Rocky Vista" and all of you should too.

 

[Obnoxious Dad]

For discussion of the school noted above for INTERVIEW DATES ONLY!. Threads will be merged in here if they are created on their own. If you are looking for the general discussion thread, please check here to find the appropriate thread.


WARNING: This thread is for current applicants to discuss the school. If you're interested in discussing your opinion on RVU, please post in this thread. If you post in this thread to specifically bash the school, you will be warned and your post either deleted or moved to the other thread.

This is to remind Playmakur(sp)42 and Coastie that this thread was intended solely for the purpose of discussing interviews at Rocky Vista. I guess you can't understand my economic arguments but you may be able to grasp the purpose of this thread.

 

[Onelesscar]

To those of you who have heard back regarding interviews how long did this take? Also, how did you hear?
Thanks!

 

[mshheaddoc]

WARNING: This thread is for current applicants to discuss the school. If you're interested in discussing your opinion on RVU, please post in this thread. If you post in this thread to specifically bash the school, you will be warned and your post either deleted or moved to the other thread.

I'd like to reiterate this and while I know some users are only trying to help some of the users on here, I'm going to move all irrelevant interview discussion to the other thread for discussion of RVU.

If anyone else continues this behavior on EITHER side of the debate, warnings/infractions will be dealt so consider this a last warning to all.

 

[-Goose-]

WARNING: This thread is for current applicants to discuss the school. If you're interested in discussing your opinion on RVU, please post in this thread. If you post in this thread to specifically bash the school, you will be warned and your post either deleted or moved to the other thread.

Uhh... Why the big-brotherish censorship?

 

[mshheaddoc]

Uhh... Why the big-brotherish censorship?

There is no censorship, I moved it to the appropriate thread. Feel free to discuss in the non-applicant thread but bashing the applicants isn't helpful for those that are applying so they have their own thread just like those who are against RVU have multiple other threads to vent their opinion.

 

[Gene Genie]

Congratulations to everyone who interviewed and was accepted!

There is an interview feedback section under databases is the toolbar above - be sure to fill it out for future applicants/students! 😀 👍

 

[Asclepion75]

First of all, congratulations to all who have been interviewed and/or accepted by RVU-COM. After my recent interview, I’m glad that I didn’t let the negative comments surrounding RVU-COM sway me. These people are the “real deal”.

For me the entire application process was clean and highly professional. After submitting my supplemental application (to include letters of recommendations), I was contacted a few days later. The staff in the office are the nicest people and they seem to value your time. The interview was scheduled and soon after I received E-mail containing information about lodging and code of conduct, etc.

If you are flying into Denver International and are not familiar with the area, I suggest getting a rental with GPS. Also you’ll need a few bucks in cash and change for the toll roads. I further suggest staying at the hotel that the school has worked out a special rate with because it’s centrally located. If at all possible, arrive at least a day early so you can “recon” the area. It’s fairly easy to find the temporary office building but you don’t want to wait until the last minute especially if you don’t have GPS.

On the day of the interview, you’ll be greeted at the reception desk and a packet will be made available along with an ID badge. Around the corner and down the hall will be a room prepared for applicants. If you are running late and don’t have time for breakfast, don’t worry there will be enough refreshments to get your glucose levels up before your interview (Note: oral care products are available to refreshen after eating). You will be given a copy of an agenda located in your packet which will have the order of the interviews.

I strongly suggest relaxing and just being you. When you go before the “Jedi Council” for your interview, don’t try to BS them. They are very insightful and have experience working with the public. They don’t want to discuss GPA’s or MCAT’s as they will not have this information available when they interview you. On the contrary, talk about your passions and why you want to pursue osteopathic medicine. In short, be sharp but human.

Finally, I love the way RVU-COM conducts their affairs. They are prompt and decisive, so instead of wasting time and resources flying all over God’s creation for more “dog and pony” shows, I’m back home working and preparing myself for relocation.

A toast to RVU-COM Class of 2012!

 

[Gene Genie]

First of all, congratulations to all who have been interviewed and/or accepted by RVU-COM. After my recent interview, I'm glad that I didn't let the negative comments surrounding RVU-COM sway me. These people are the "real deal".

For me the entire application process was clean and highly professional. After submitting my supplemental application (to include letters of recommendations), I was contacted a few days later. The staff in the office are the nicest people and they seem to value your time. The interview was scheduled and soon after I received E-mail containing information about lodging and code of conduct, etc.

If you are flying into Denver International and are not familiar with the area, I suggest getting a rental with GPS. Also you'll need a few bucks in cash and change for the toll roads. I further suggest staying at the hotel that the school has worked out a special rate with because it's centrally located. If at all possible, arrive at least a day early so you can "recon" the area. It's fairly easy to find the temporary office building but you don't want to wait until the last minute especially if you don't have GPS.

On the day of the interview, you'll be greeted at the reception desk and a packet will be made available along with an ID badge. Around the corner and down the hall will be a room prepared for applicants. If you are running late and don't have time for breakfast, don't worry there will be enough refreshments to get your glucose levels up before your interview (Note: oral care products are available to refreshen after eating). You will be given a copy of an agenda located in your packet which will have the order of the interviews.

I strongly suggest relaxing and just being you. When you go before the "Jedi Council" for your interview, don't try to BS them. They are very insightful and have experience working with the public. They don't want to discuss GPA's or MCAT's as they will not have this information available when they interview you. On the contrary, talk about your passions and why you want to pursue osteopathic medicine. In short, be sharp but human.

Finally, I love the way RVU-COM conducts their affairs. They are prompt and decisive, so instead of wasting time and resources flying all over God's creation for more "dog and pony" shows, I'm back home working and preparing myself for relocation.

A toast to RVU-COM Class of 2012!

Great information - and exactly the experience that I had (except for the out-of-state stuff 😉) I really hope you make it in - Good Luck and let us all know how it goes.

 

[katnap]

Congratulations to everyone who interviewed and was accepted!

There is an interview feedback section under databases is the toolbar above - be sure to fill it out for future applicants/students! 😀 👍

I think someone is posting fake feedback in the database:

http://share.studentdoctor.net/interview/show_entry.asp?ID=20295

They say the interview is one-on-one, it's 40 minutes long, and it took place at the medical school. I find this hard to believe as the interviews are three-on-one, 25 minutes long, and at a temporary location.

Kat.

 

[Gene Genie]

I think someone is posting fake feedback in the database:

http://share.studentdoctor.net/interview/show_entry.asp?ID=20295

They say the interview is one-on-one, it's 40 minutes long, and it took place at the medical school. I find this hard to believe as the interviews are three-on-one, 25 minutes long, and at a temporary location.

Kat.

I noticed it earlier today and reported it as potentially false because the details of the interview were wrong.

Aren't those little a**holes clever!

 

[JayLay23]

From Connecticut...went on interview to RVU and had nothing negative to say. Faculty was polite and informative. Accepted 2 days after interview. Everything went very smooth and enjoyed myself...unlike some other interviews.

 

[Gene Genie]

Congratulations! Welcome to the inaugural class. I hope to meet you at orientation 🙂

 

[katnap]

Congrats JayLay23. Looking forward to meeting you if you accept and matriculate.

Kat.

 

[CSUPremed]

I got accepted to RVU literally less than a day after I had my interview. I plan on attending there as the inaugural class of 2012! YAY! Denver is an amazing place to live, and the school is GORGEOUS! Plus, being the first class at a new medical school is an exciting and rare experience that I cannot wait for! BE A PART OF HISTORY!! So yes, I guess I will see you all in July of 2008! YAY FOR RVU STUDENTS!🙂

 

[Gene Genie]

I got accepted to RVU literally less than a day after I had my interview. I plan on attending there as the inaugural class of 2012! YAY! Denver is an amazing place to live, and the school is GORGEOUS! Plus, being the first class at a new medical school is an exciting and rare experience that I cannot wait for! BE A PART OF HISTORY!! So yes, I guess I will see you all in July of 2008! YAY FOR RVU STUDENTS!🙂

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I know you were really excited about your interview, so its great to see that it worked out the way you wanted! See you in July 2008! 😀

 

[PunkmedGirl]

hi

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!! i hope you get in...

 

[OLYWA]

Ok...I've got an admittedly stupid question. I put it in this thread as anyone in this thread has applied and should know the answer.

I'm filling out my secondary and on the 2nd page you're asked what your home state is. Your choices are CO, Mountain West, and Plain.

Ok...apparently after 8 years of college some things still aren't obvious to me...but what do they mean by Plain? Is this where you list your state of residence...or if you live on the plains...or what?

Humor me please...I need to send my app in soon.

 

[MaximusD]

I have an interview at RVUCOM on November 15th. I am SO excited! It would be SO nice to stay here in Colorado, and I hear that the school is AMAZING! I have been in touch with one of their admissions counselors and she has been BY FAR the nicest and most helpful one of any school I have been to so far. I have been accepted everywhere that I have interviewed so far (DMU, NYCOM, KCOM, AZCOM, Western, and LECOM-Erie), so I am feeling pretty confident going into it. Either way, it's my #1 choice. The dress code is a bummer, and there are some stupid rules (no food/drink in classes, etc.) but I can get past all that for a quality education. Ahhh, sacrifices... I'll let you all know how it goes! Does anyone know about their curriculum yet??

🙂

I always wonder how a school enforces no food/drink policies... Do they have a bouncer at the back of the classroom physically TAKE your food/drink?

Doubt it.

 

[jp104]

I always wonder how a school enforces no food/drink policies... Do they have a bouncer at the back of the classroom physically TAKE your food/drink?

Doubt it.

Doesn't LECOM-E have the same policy? I think they don't enforce it too heavily, but once in a while a security guard will yell at you or something

 

[Gene Genie]

Ok...I've got an admittedly stupid question. I put it in this thread as anyone in this thread has applied and should know the answer.

I'm filling out my secondary and on the 2nd page you're asked what your home state is. Your choices are CO, Mountain West, and Plain.

Ok...apparently after 8 years of college some things still aren't obvious to me...but what do they mean by Plain? Is this where you list your state of residence...or if you live on the plains...or what?

Humor me please...I need to send my app in soon.

That's not really a stupid question. I would call the school on this one. 🙂

 

[katnap]

Has anyone received matriculation documents via e-mail from RVUCOM yet? If so, how long do they take to arrive after the acceptance letter?

Thanks,
Kat.

 

[paramediclizard]

Well I dropped my secondary in the mail this AM and I my LOR's should be on the way too! I am so excited, and a little nervous too. I have had a lousy response from my choices so far, AZCOM, DMU, CCOM, NSU and KCOM, so we will see what happens.
I really hope that I can land an interview. I literally live 5 miles from the school, and I would be super excited to stay here in CO.
Hopefully I will be picked to represent the first class at RVU. 👍

 

[Gene Genie]

Has anyone received matriculation documents via e-mail from RVUCOM yet? If so, how long do they take to arrive after the acceptance letter?

Thanks,
Kat.

Kat, it took about a week to receive my acceptance letter and another week to receive the matriculation information. You should be getting them soon!

 

[katnap]

Kat, it took about a week to receive my acceptance letter and another week to receive the matriculation information. You should be getting them soon!

Thanks Genie. I actually received the matriculation agreement about 15 minutes after I posted the question. Small world!

Kat.

 

[paramediclizard]

Hey everyone...me again.
Just wondering what kind of turn around time you all experienced following the recipt of your secondary app?
Any info would help! Thanks.

 

[paramediclizard]

Ok...I've got an admittedly stupid question. I put it in this thread as anyone in this thread has applied and should know the answer.

I'm filling out my secondary and on the 2nd page you're asked what your home state is. Your choices are CO, Mountain West, and Plain.

Ok...apparently after 8 years of college some things still aren't obvious to me...but what do they mean by Plain? Is this where you list your state of residence...or if you live on the plains...or what?

Humor me please...I need to send my app in soon.

I would go out on a limb and call you mountain west. I mean Washington is West of the Mississippi, and it has mountains right!?!
On a side note, I just looked at your MD Apps and couldn't help but notice that you and I both have lots of EMS experience. I hope that you get in someplace and can represent us medics as a DO. Good luck

 

[Gene Genie]

Hey everyone...me again.
Just wondering what kind of turn around time you all experienced following the recipt of your secondary app?
Any info would help! Thanks.

I mailed my secondary (in Colorado) on a Friday. I called on Monday to check my status (I knew that my LOR's were already sent and received) and they did not yet have my secondary application. I received a call for an interview the next day (Tuesday, the day they received my secondary). However, it was at the beginning of the admissions cycle so it may be taking longer now. They scheduled an interview a week or two later.

 

[Gene Genie]

I would go out on a limb and call you mountain west. I mean Washington is West of the Mississippi, and it has mountains right!?!
On a side note, I just looked at your MD Apps and couldn't help but notice that you and I both have lots of EMS experience. I hope that you get in someplace and can represent us medics as a DO. Good luck

Your EMS experience is something that we could all benefit from by having you as a fellow student at RVU! 🙂👍

 

[amichopo]

Kat-
I interviewed the same day you did and I got my matriculation email yesterday afternoon so it should be coming soon!! Congrats on getting in!!😀

 

[Gene Genie]

Everyone interviewing - CONGRATULATIONS & GOOD LUCK

Be sure to fill out the interview evaluation under "databases" in the task bar above the thread!

 

[paramediclizard]

I mailed my secondary (in Colorado) on a Friday. I called on Monday to check my status (I knew that my LOR's were already sent and received) and they did not yet have my secondary application. I received a call for an interview the next day (Tuesday, the day they received my secondary). However, it was at the beginning of the admissions cycle so it may be taking longer now. They scheduled an interview a week or two later.

Thanks for the insight GG. 👍I am really excited at the possibility of attending RVU, especially with all of the awesome people posting in this forum. I will be keeping my fingers crossed the rest of the week to hear some good news soon.

 

[paramediclizard]

Your EMS experience is something that we could all benefit from by having you as a fellow student at RVU! 🙂👍

Funny, that's part of what I talked about for the second to last question on the secondary.
It's the heavy duty sciences that scares me a little. Hopefully, we can all help each other out with our individual strengths and weaknesses.