VCOM (Carolinas) but OOS

[dreamweaver1988]

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I'm applying next cycle and looking closely at VCOM's Carolinas campus. My state of residence is Kansas but I have very strong family ties to South Carolina, including rural areas of the state. However, this surely won't compensate for the fact that I'm not from an Appalachian state (though my parents are both SC natives). I am a geography/ community planning double major so I do have an interest in rural medicine, but at this points it's more from a public health perspective. I hope to someday practice in SC--maybe that will help.

I haven't taken the MCAT. I expect to be around 3.75/3.50 when I apply in June. All other aspects of my application will be at least respectable, I think.

With this in mind, is a school that favors regional students (63% of the class of 2015 at VCOM-Carolina is from an Appalachian State) too much of a reach, or is it worth a shot?

 

[dreamweaver1988]

I'm applying next cycle and looking closely at VCOM's Carolinas campus. My state of residence is Kansas but I have very strong family ties to South Carolina, including rural areas of the state. However, this surely won't compensate for the fact that I'm not from an Appalachian state (though my parents are both SC natives). I am a geography/ community planning double major so I do have an interest in rural medicine, but at this points it's more from a public health perspective. I hope to someday practice in SC--maybe that will help.

I haven't taken the MCAT. I expect to be around 3.75/3.50 when I apply in June. All other aspects of my application will be at least respectable, I think.

With this in mind, is a school that favors regional students (63% of the class of 2015 at VCOM-Carolina is from an Appalachian State) too much of a reach, or is it worth a shot?

Bump #1 🙁

 

[ManBroDude]

I think you and I both know you have a good chance if you get a good (28+) MCAT score considering your above-average grades. You just have to be better than that other 37% of out-of-staters! Get crackin' on buffing out those EC's between now and June to really stand out.

 

[PunkmedGirl]

You will never know if its worth a shot if you don't apply. No one can tell you with 100% certainty that you will or will not get into VCOM-CC. Just apply and see what happens.

 

[dreamweaver1988]

Thanks, I needed that.

 

[Ebola4Breakfast]

I'm applying next cycle and looking closely at VCOM's Carolinas campus. My state of residence is Kansas but I have very strong family ties to South Carolina, including rural areas of the state. However, this surely won't compensate for the fact that I'm not from an Appalachian state (though my parents are both SC natives). I am a geography/ community planning double major so I do have an interest in rural medicine, but at this points it's more from a public health perspective. I hope to someday practice in SC--maybe that will help.

I haven't taken the MCAT. I expect to be around 3.75/3.50 when I apply in June. All other aspects of my application will be at least respectable, I think.

With this in mind, is a school that favors regional students (63% of the class of 2015 at VCOM-Carolina is from an Appalachian State) too much of a reach, or is it worth a shot?

The day I interviewed, one of our student hosts was from Ohio, which I'm pretty sure isn't in the Appalachian region. I think there are ways to make your career intentions and ties to South Carolina known. I'd suggest possibly getting in contact with the admissions coordinator (who is incredibly nice and helpful, BTW). I think there's a lot to be said for showing a strong, early interest in a program if you actually have a genuine interest. Med school admission is a game. Don't be afraid to play it.

 

[dreamweaver1988]

The day I interviewed, one of our student hosts was from Ohio, which I'm pretty sure isn't in the Appalachian region. I think there are ways to make your career intentions and ties to South Carolina known. I'd suggest possibly getting in contact with the admissions coordinator (who is incredibly nice and helpful, BTW). I think there's a lot to be said for showing a strong, early interest in a program if you actually have a genuine interest. Med school admission is a game. Don't be afraid to play it.

Thank you for your input. Hopefully you were a successful applicant?

 

[Ochemlover45]

The day I interviewed, one of our student hosts was from Ohio, which I'm pretty sure isn't in the Appalachian region.

You've never been to SE Ohio. It might as well be called West West Virginia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_Ohio

 

[Ebola4Breakfast]

Thank you for your input. Hopefully you were a successful applicant?

I was 🙂

You've never been to SE Ohio. It might as well be called West West Virginia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_Ohio

Oops, my mistake. You're absolutely right. There are apparently a lot of counties in Ohio that are considered Appalachian: http://www.arc.gov/counties

I still think the OP can overcome the regional bias. Show persistent (but polite) interest. Show how you fit the mission. VCOM seems to be very mission and fit oriented once you make a very basic numbers cut.

 

[TheU12]

Do not hesitate to apply! I’m a Michigan resident and I go to school in Miami. I was not from any rural area nor do I go to school in a rural area. My cGPA is a 3.7and sGPA 3.4 and only a 22 on the MCAT. I was complete 11/3 and received a phone call 11/14 for an interview. I did have a lot of clinical experiences in health settings, but it’s not impossible not being from the region even if your scores aren’t that high. APPLY!

 

[Fr3sh7]

I'm applying next cycle and looking closely at VCOM's Carolinas campus. My state of residence is Kansas but I have very strong family ties to South Carolina, including rural areas of the state. However, this surely won't compensate for the fact that I'm not from an Appalachian state (though my parents are both SC natives). I am a geography/ community planning double major so I do have an interest in rural medicine, but at this points it's more from a public health perspective. I hope to someday practice in SC--maybe that will help.

I haven't taken the MCAT. I expect to be around 3.75/3.50 when I apply in June. All other aspects of my application will be at least respectable, I think.

With this in mind, is a school that favors regional students (63% of the class of 2015 at VCOM-Carolina is from an Appalachian State) too much of a reach, or is it worth a shot?

I actually just finished interviewing here and absolutely loved the school and staff. I'm from Indiana, which is definitely not an Appalachian state by any means, so there is always a chance if your application stands out. They really focus on international mission medicine, so it may help if you have volunteered overseas before. Good Luck

 

[alexjeisenberg]

I am Florida resident and I was interviewed and accepted to VCOM-CC this cycle. Here are my stats: Overall GPA: 3.7 Science GPA: 3.4 (Dual Major Biology and Psychology)... MCAT 25 (11 verbal, 8 bio, 6 phy)... I have pretty strong ECs (i.e. lots of shadowing, research, mission trips, work in an emergency department). My advice to you is study hard for the MCAT and APPLY EARLY! Best of luck!

 

[Doopa]

What were your stats if you don't mind me asking? I am oos and interviewed at VCOM-CC and I am still waiting to hear. Super anxious!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[karaoke910]

As a current student I can tell you there are so many people from outside of this rural, Appalachian area, me being one of them. I am from Philadelphia and have no ties to this area or any rural area. While the stats say over half are from the Appalachian region, they include a lot of states in that statistic. They don't necessarily look for people from that area, but they look for people who want to work in underserved communities or have strong motivations for doing community outreach. If you write your personal statement explaining your desires and goals as a doctor, and they fit the school's mission (which it sounds like it will) you will have no problem getting an interview. Those statistics about location of students are just that, numbers. They are not set in stone and the admissions committee looks for complementary personalities to their mission statement.

Good luck!