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Hi everyone,
Tonight my husband and I drove down to UVA to see a panel discussion with the deans of admission for UVA and for Virginia Commonwealth Med schools. It was a great discussion! We learned a lot about each school and what they are looking for. Most of the students were 3rd or 4th year undergrads, but there were a few other post bac's besides us. Here is what I learned!
UVA:
We both initially wanted to come down to this talk to find out more about UVA. Last year's entering class had a 3.6 (in state)/ 3.85 (out) GPA, around a 33 MCAT. The average age of entering students was 22 and 1/4 yrs. The dean said they have a couple of 40 yr olds, and everyone else was 21. Ouch! (I am 28). Several people asked about taking a year off before starting/applying, and the dean said that the school prefers students who are entering straight from college or graduate school. If you take time off from school, you better be able to show how you 'matured' during this time. He actually said that several people on the admissions board thought that time off after college was a sign of immaturity, though he did not agree. Hmm. The curriculum has one problem based learning class each year, and offers rotations for 3rd and 4th yrs at hospitals in Charlottesville, Roanoake, and somewhere else I forgot. Clinical opportunities are available for the first two years, but he did not say if it was an elective or required. The curriculum may change in a few years to shorten the first 2 yrs to 1.5 and then add on the chance to book study the second half of the 4th yr. Average debt of students is $62,000, and financial aid is need based. (not good for working class me). 142 students are accepted each year; roughly 1/3 are out of state. No grades post graduation are seriously counted by UVA, only undergraduate grades only are considered. The dean also said be nice to the 4th yr interviewers; sometimes med school applicants are not. That seemed really weird to me - why would anyone be rude in an interview?
Virginia Commonwealth (the one in Richmond):
The average age is 24 yrs, and they have many students with a wide range of career backgrounds. Average dept is $102, average GPA is 3.6, and MCAT is 29 (combined in and out of state). I asked the dean which was better for an older student working full time or going to school full time? She said either one is great, just as long as you are volunteering in a healthcare environment. She also only had positive things to say about the Georgetown Special Masters Program. She mentioned the VMC one year masters/post bac program (not sure which), and said, while there are no guarentees about getting in, those students usually do excellent in med school. The school actually has several married couples right now (yay for us!), and she encouraged us to tell the admissions office we were married. They would place us in different rotations at the same time so prevent possible dependencies. 180 or so students in the large class. 2 years traditional learning, 9-12 in classroom and afternoons in lab. Also, the first two years you actually work a half day every other week in a local drs office and take a class to learn basic clinical skills. I really like that! Rotations can be done in Richmond and also in Farifax at NOVA starting this year. Roughly 45% of Commonwaelth students go into primary care, the other 55% go into all sorts of specialties. Some guy asked her if he should retake the MCAT because of a 9 verbal, and she said don't bother.
Both schools:
Volunteer work in a healthcare, clinical environment is absolutely necessary, unless you want to be a research dr, in which case you need serious research background. Both schools have lost students recently who looked good on paper, but decided they just did not like sick people! They also both said that volunteer work was considered more important in the admission process than research. Essays are also HUGELY important! Neither school admits to having minimum GPA/MCAT requirements (but I have my doubts on this one). They swear they read _every_ one of the 4000+ completed applications from start to finish!
A student athlete asked if the time spent on sports would be considered for a lower GPA. UVA said not really, and Commonwealth said maybe.
All in all, I was impressed with what Virginia Commonwealth presented. While the curriculum is considered more conservative, the admission policy seems more liberal and down to earth. I am not a younger all numbers applicant (until I take the MCAT in April, hahahaa), and I think they may take that into account. UVA seems to have a definate medical student applicant in mind, which is fine, but its not going to be me or my husband. I did like the UVA campus, and both the dean and the students were very friendly and nice. the new curriculum sounds great too.
Anyway, if anyone has any questions, please post them. Commonwealth said that they only offer tours to premed groups, so if anyone wants to start a SDN Club and go visit, let me know.
Good night all!
u2ecila
Tonight my husband and I drove down to UVA to see a panel discussion with the deans of admission for UVA and for Virginia Commonwealth Med schools. It was a great discussion! We learned a lot about each school and what they are looking for. Most of the students were 3rd or 4th year undergrads, but there were a few other post bac's besides us. Here is what I learned!
UVA:
We both initially wanted to come down to this talk to find out more about UVA. Last year's entering class had a 3.6 (in state)/ 3.85 (out) GPA, around a 33 MCAT. The average age of entering students was 22 and 1/4 yrs. The dean said they have a couple of 40 yr olds, and everyone else was 21. Ouch! (I am 28). Several people asked about taking a year off before starting/applying, and the dean said that the school prefers students who are entering straight from college or graduate school. If you take time off from school, you better be able to show how you 'matured' during this time. He actually said that several people on the admissions board thought that time off after college was a sign of immaturity, though he did not agree. Hmm. The curriculum has one problem based learning class each year, and offers rotations for 3rd and 4th yrs at hospitals in Charlottesville, Roanoake, and somewhere else I forgot. Clinical opportunities are available for the first two years, but he did not say if it was an elective or required. The curriculum may change in a few years to shorten the first 2 yrs to 1.5 and then add on the chance to book study the second half of the 4th yr. Average debt of students is $62,000, and financial aid is need based. (not good for working class me). 142 students are accepted each year; roughly 1/3 are out of state. No grades post graduation are seriously counted by UVA, only undergraduate grades only are considered. The dean also said be nice to the 4th yr interviewers; sometimes med school applicants are not. That seemed really weird to me - why would anyone be rude in an interview?
Virginia Commonwealth (the one in Richmond):
The average age is 24 yrs, and they have many students with a wide range of career backgrounds. Average dept is $102, average GPA is 3.6, and MCAT is 29 (combined in and out of state). I asked the dean which was better for an older student working full time or going to school full time? She said either one is great, just as long as you are volunteering in a healthcare environment. She also only had positive things to say about the Georgetown Special Masters Program. She mentioned the VMC one year masters/post bac program (not sure which), and said, while there are no guarentees about getting in, those students usually do excellent in med school. The school actually has several married couples right now (yay for us!), and she encouraged us to tell the admissions office we were married. They would place us in different rotations at the same time so prevent possible dependencies. 180 or so students in the large class. 2 years traditional learning, 9-12 in classroom and afternoons in lab. Also, the first two years you actually work a half day every other week in a local drs office and take a class to learn basic clinical skills. I really like that! Rotations can be done in Richmond and also in Farifax at NOVA starting this year. Roughly 45% of Commonwaelth students go into primary care, the other 55% go into all sorts of specialties. Some guy asked her if he should retake the MCAT because of a 9 verbal, and she said don't bother.
Both schools:
Volunteer work in a healthcare, clinical environment is absolutely necessary, unless you want to be a research dr, in which case you need serious research background. Both schools have lost students recently who looked good on paper, but decided they just did not like sick people! They also both said that volunteer work was considered more important in the admission process than research. Essays are also HUGELY important! Neither school admits to having minimum GPA/MCAT requirements (but I have my doubts on this one). They swear they read _every_ one of the 4000+ completed applications from start to finish!
A student athlete asked if the time spent on sports would be considered for a lower GPA. UVA said not really, and Commonwealth said maybe.
All in all, I was impressed with what Virginia Commonwealth presented. While the curriculum is considered more conservative, the admission policy seems more liberal and down to earth. I am not a younger all numbers applicant (until I take the MCAT in April, hahahaa), and I think they may take that into account. UVA seems to have a definate medical student applicant in mind, which is fine, but its not going to be me or my husband. I did like the UVA campus, and both the dean and the students were very friendly and nice. the new curriculum sounds great too.
Anyway, if anyone has any questions, please post them. Commonwealth said that they only offer tours to premed groups, so if anyone wants to start a SDN Club and go visit, let me know.
Good night all!
u2ecila
