Screened out by Wake Forest?(low VR Beware)

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badasshairday

Vascular and Interventional Radiology
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So I received my first rejection today... Wake Forest.

I applied to 29 schools, and am a Cali resident with a 33 MCAT but with a low VR score of an 8.

My overall GPA and science GPA is a respectable 3.7

At first I thought it was because I was out of State, but then realized that it is a private MD school. I was rejected PRE-Secondary, which I thought was odd because I have received secondaries from pre-secondary screening schools that are even more competitive numbers-wise.

My only explanation for this could be my VR. Maybe Wake Forest has a 9 cut off for all sections. However, considering the amount of secondaries I have received, it seems that most schools have around an 8 cut off.

Oh well.
 
as seen in many other threads, wake doesn't seem to have any method to their madness with their screening. i have an 11 in verbal and got rejected pre-secondary last year.
 
as seen in many other threads, wake doesn't seem to have any method to their madness with their screening. i have an 11 in verbal and got rejected pre-secondary last year.

LOL, wtf! Okay, I guess you can forget everything I just said.
 
I don't think it's verbal either. For me, I thought it was just GPA. I have a decent MCAT score, a lot of EC's (academic, non-academic, research, clinical, volunteer)...so maybe they just didn't like me🙁
 
i saw in another thread that some people think wake likes reapplicants since they show they're determined, but I'd rather save 30 bucks and waste it on booze to drown my sorrows.
 
I know someone with an MCAT of 31 who got in last year. They may just have a lot more applicants this year or something.
 
I have a 12 in VR and got rejected pre-secondary. However, I also have an 8 in PS. Regardless, I've seen people post with an 8 in one section and still get a secondary from Wake. It really is just madness. They must be laughing watching us try to figure out something that is simply inexplicable.
 
I don't mean to burst the OP's bubble, but I had a 7 in verbal reasoning and a 31 total and got a secondary from Wake Forest. My GPA was 3.76, and I was also a California resident. (Keep in mind that this was during last year's cycle, so they may have changed their screening algorithm).

I have no idea why they rejected you and why I got a secondary. In these situations, I just tell people that, well, they had too many people named "badasshairday" applying, so that's why you got rejected - or some other totally random reason. In general, admissions office employees are overworked and underpaid, and some apps just fall through the cracks.

Also, I have a friend (9,13,12 MCAT, ~3.35 GPA) who was also rejected pre-secondary this cycle.
 
Yeah, I had a friend apply last year with a 3.8 and 34R, and she also got rejected presecondary. They definitely don't look at just stats. It seems that being an NC resident helps a lot, but I think it may also have to do with things like employment history (my friend had zero), maybe ECs in general.
 
Yeah, I had a friend apply last year with a 3.8 and 34R, and she also got rejected presecondary. They definitely don't look at just stats. It seems that being an NC resident helps a lot, but I think it may also have to do with things like employment history (my friend had zero), maybe ECs in general.

I'm 32 and have had a couple of serious jobs and some good ECs. And I got cut.

Personally, I'm beginning to think that there are a bunch of people with the job of screening apps at Wake, and they all have their own agenda. One of them screens you out if you have an 8 or below in any one section, another one doesn't mind 8s on the MCAT but doesn't like people with little work/ECs, another solely cuts based on gpa, and yet another really just likes reapplicants or those from NC.
 
I don't mean to burst the OP's bubble, but I had a 7 in verbal reasoning and a 31 total and got a secondary from Wake Forest. My GPA was 3.76, and I was also a California resident. (Keep in mind that this was during last year's cycle, so they may have changed their screening algorithm).

I have no idea why they rejected you and why I got a secondary. In these situations, I just tell people that, well, they had too many people named "badasshairday" applying, so that's why you got rejected - or some other totally random reason. In general, admissions office employees are overworked and underpaid, and some apps just fall through the cracks.

Also, I have a friend (9,13,12 MCAT, ~3.35 GPA) who was also rejected pre-secondary this cycle.

yea I don't know why the ppl above didn't get secondaries.....

I received Wake Forest's secondary this year. I'm a Cali resident, 3.74 GPA, 8 in verbal, 29 total, decent and unique EC's (if you consider hip-hop dance choreographer unique), AMCAS verified July 12...maybe it's the personal statement that's playing the role of weed-whacker here??
 
Last year, I had 27 MCAT with 6 on VR, and I got the secondary.
This year, I had 31 MCAT with 8 on VR, and I got the secondary again. I don't think there is a number cutoff.
 
I've read from a number of places that wake forrest's average mcat is a 10 on each section, is this true?
 
We've already had this discussion in the OFFICIAL I HAVE BEEN REJECTED FROM... thread. You can't figure out how Wake screens so don't even try.

I got an 8 in VR and got a secondary/
 
Since the average verbal is probably a 10, I really doubt that an 8 or 9 will get you rejected.
 
yea I don't know why the ppl above didn't get secondaries.....

...maybe it's the personal statement that's playing the role of weed-whacker here??

I'm going to have to disagree with your theory now that I just got an interview invite today from George Washington. If there were something so objectionable in my personal statement that it warranted a pre-secondary rejection, I can't imagine that I'd get an interview invite to a school so soon. At least, that's my reasoning.

We're back to square one with trying to figure out Wake's screen. But frankly, I just don't give a damn anymore. 😀 And you guys shouldn't either. Wake's decision to reject us pre-secondary doesn't mean squat. So, g'luck to all the other Wake pre-secondary rejectees out there!!!
 
Wake also has a pretty big in-state bias (they deny it but numbers don't lie, check the MSAR). Being from California definitely did not help you as I'm sure WFU would be skeptical that you'd actually have any interest in going to a school in boring Winston Salem. And Wake is an attention ***** of a school (see threads last year related to calling for an interview and see threads about the kiss a** letter you have to write if you get waitlisted).

If you did get an interview you would definitely be asked to justify your interest there which you may or may not have been able to do anyway. So . . . might not be a strict cutoff, but a combination of factors for them not wanting to see your app through.

And in the end, you'll realize this process is at least 50% random (especially at schools that get tons of apps like BU, GW, etc.)
 
wake seems pretty random...i am a california resident now, but originally from NC with strong ties there, a 32 R (10, 11, 11) and a decent gpa. so who knows? it's also sort of funny that one of my recommenders went there and was really pushing for me to go. but they'll never see her letter. oh well.
 
Hey OP I got a 6VR and MCAT 29 with a 3.9 GPA + research experience and I got a secondary
 
wake seems pretty random...i am a california resident now, but originally from NC with strong ties there, a 32 R (10, 11, 11) and a decent gpa. so who knows? it's also sort of funny that one of my recommenders went there and was really pushing for me to go. but they'll never see her letter. oh well.
you got rejected?

So who has research experience, and were you given a secondary or rejected?
 
i had an 8 in VR as well and i got a secondary from Wake Forest

my ECs were weak, too..

it must be a random lottery process
 
How long did it take before you found out that you were rejected or were going to get the secondary?
 
I was rejected the day after my mcat scores were released. v11 p10 b10 m
 
Isn't Wake Baptist? Do they give preference to good students from other religious schools?
 
Are you guys taking quality/content of your personal statement and extracurriculars into account? Numbers are pretty limited by themselves, and no one seems to be mentioning anything besides numbers as the reason that Wake Forest is "random."
 
I know undergrad is....hence the mascot "demon deacons", lol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake_Forest_University
it says on there the mascot came from beating Duke. they used to be the Fighting Baptists.

it sounds like they're no longer associated with the Baptist Convention, though the medical center is called the WFU Baptist Medical Center

I dunno, I doubt they choose people based on religious ties.
 
8 VR, 10 PS, 12 BS with M writing and I just got a secondary today. I got a letter from them asking for my completion of master's degree by July 2008, which I replied to. Maybe a higher degree helps somewhat? My stats are pretty below average.
 
i had an 8 in VR as well and i got a secondary from Wake Forest

my ECs were weak, too..

it must be a random lottery process

Not random, just difficult to figure out w/o all the data. If everyone who got rejected/secondaries would create an mdapps profile, we could deduce something. The early trend appears to show a solid MCAT/GPA isn't enough.
 
Not random, just difficult to figure out w/o all the data. If everyone who got rejected/secondaries would create an mdapps profile, we could deduce something. The early trend appears to show a solid MCAT/GPA isn't enough.
Apparently it's not sufficient or necessary. I only graduated with a 3.33 overall and a 31 MCAT.

I do have some research experience and a master's degree, and am a reapplicant. Those are all things that changed between my last application when I was rejected pre-secondary and this time.

I was verified on 7/02
 
what about AMCAS verification date? maybe how early you applied contributed to their screening decision....
 
So I received my first rejection today... Wake Forest.

I applied to 29 schools, and am a Cali resident with a 33 MCAT but with a low VR score of an 8.

My overall GPA and science GPA is a respectable 3.7

At first I thought it was because I was out of State, but then realized that it is a private MD school. I was rejected PRE-Secondary, which I thought was odd because I have received secondaries from pre-secondary screening schools that are even more competitive numbers-wise.

My only explanation for this could be my VR. Maybe Wake Forest has a 9 cut off for all sections. However, considering the amount of secondaries I have received, it seems that most schools have around an 8 cut off.

Oh well.

I doubt that... Last yr, I got wake's secondary with less than 8 in VR. I'm a CA resident as well... I dunno whether they change the policy this yr or not.
 
I was rejected pre-secondary via e-mail on the 27th or so of July. I recieved a letter today dated august 3rd saying I need a letter from my graduate advisor confirming that I am going to graduate from my program this May. It also said if they don't hear from me in three weeks they are going to withdraw my application from further consideration. What are they rejecting people twice now? Has this happend to anyone so far?
 
I was rejected pre-secondary via e-mail on the 27th or so of July. I recieved a letter today dated august 3rd saying I need a letter from my graduate advisor confirming that I am going to graduate from my program this May. It also said if they don't hear from me in three weeks they are going to withdraw my application from further consideration. What are they rejecting people twice now? Has this happend to anyone so far?

I got the same letter today, but my status page says I am still under review (since 7/25)
 
That's bizarre. Perhaps a phone call might be in order.
 
So i called them today and the admissions person told me there was a glitch or something and my app. was reevaluated and I am going to get a secondary. They just needed a letter from my grad. advisor stating I will graduate this spring (info. is for anyone that got that letter and hasn't called) Anyway, I was wondering if someone remembered the essays so I can start, because my advisor is on vacation until the 13th. Also, do you think being complete at Wake around the end of August is really late to get an early interview? Thanks and sorry for the long post.
THR
 
So i called them today and the admissions person told me there was a glitch or something and my app. was reevaluated and I am going to get a secondary. They just needed a letter from my grad. advisor stating I will graduate this spring (info. is for anyone that got that letter and hasn't called) Anyway, I was wondering if someone remembered the essays so I can start, because my advisor is on vacation until the 13th. Also, do you think being complete at Wake around the end of August is really late to get an early interview? Thanks and sorry for the long post.
THR

Three spots for comments on their secondary. There was no minimum or maximum ammount of characters from what I remember. The rest of the application was very easy to fill out. I think it is a great school and so far I have loved my time in NC. Wouldn't mind staying...except this week has kind of sucked. Heat index of over 112 degrees...I guess if my office had AC it wouldn't have been so bad.

Here are the questions:

In which service activity that you listed on the AMCAS application do you feel made the most impact on someone else?


Which service activity had the most impact on you?


Personal Comments (Complete if you have additional comments or something specific to say to the school):
 
Wake Forest tried to recruit me just based on my MCAT score. 😵

This URM thing is getting out of control. Somehow I think it should be done away with if it has this kind of effect.
 
I submitted the WFU secondary on 7/29. I know that they started inviting for interviews earlier this week, however I have yet to receive an invite. I am worried that I screwed up on the secondary... I simply listed the service activities in answering those two questions and didn't do any elaborating on the service activity's impact. And I left the additional comments blank. For those of you who have completed the secondary, what did you do? and did I screw up?
 
I have an 8 in the VR and didn't get screened, so I am guessing that is not the case.
 
I submitted the WFU secondary on 7/29. I know that they started inviting for interviews earlier this week, however I have yet to receive an invite. I am worried that I screwed up on the secondary... I simply listed the service activities in answering those two questions and didn't do any elaborating on the service activity's impact. And I left the additional comments blank. For those of you who have completed the secondary, what did you do? and did I screw up?

When they give as little guidance as they did for those short essays...or comments, it really seems like they leave it up to the author. There were no limits and no specifics asked for. I just told a couple stories about specific instances during my service activities for the first two. For the last question, I just went all out and wrote up an essay. I have a lot of explaining to do given my somewhat non-linear progression into medicine.
 
Hey everyone.
Congrats to those who got secondaries, and for those of you who didn't, I just want to add something.

I just started my first year at Wake, and I love it. I had a very balanced MCAT, (10, 10, 10), and a good GPA. On top of that, however, I volunteered a lot, did research, worked, and participated in clubs. Everyone in my class that I have talked to did much of the same.

Now that we're in, the faculty keeps emphasizing that when they choose people, they choose them based off well-roundedness and their ability to handle many aspects of life that it takes to become a physician. From just the first couple of weeks of school, I can already see this. We have people who have come from amazing backgrounds, even if their numbers are not amazing.

This is not just a numbers game, although it is easy to see it that way. Wake is one of the few schools that actually takes the time to look at an entire application before sending a secondary, because they are not a school that is just out to take your money. If you all have any questions, feel free to PM me. Good luck in your application process!
 
hey guys,
i just got an email saying wake received my primary but when i checked the status it says..

Your AMCAS application has been evaluated and we are sending you our secondary application by e-mail. Please allow 2 weeks for the application to be sent to you as we send them out in batches.

Does this mean i passed the screening or do i find that out later?? i'm a little confused...
 
yes it means you passed the initial screen- you'll get their secondary soon.
 
So I received my first rejection today... Wake Forest.

Forget about it.

Wake is pretty fickle. I know a plastic doc who attended Wake for undergrad, Wake for med, and wasn't even invited for a residency interview.

On a more personal note, Wake was also my first rejection, and today was my first day of orientation at another allopathic school. Put the rejection behind you. You'll have plenty to look forward to.
 
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