VCOM Discussion Thread 2009-2010

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Not to be super nosey or anything, but I was wondering what some people's gpas and MCATs were that received interviews or got accepted. I was very surprised(but ecstatic) to get an interview at VCOM but my MCAT is not the best. I have heard about people like me having good interviews and still getting rejected because of this. Does anyone think this is the case at VCOM? My highest individual combined score is a 23, but my highest individual test is a 21, my gpa is high, at 3.64c and 3.60s, and the rest of my application is very strong(rural area, ecs, lors, leadership, etc.). I am also a grad student at PCOM. Any help would be great.

Grrrr!! IT IS NOT JUST NUMBERS!! Not to get crazy but don't fall in to this trap. Look at the interview stats for almost any D.O. school. With the exception of CCOM, which is like 50%, well over 50% of those interviewed get accepted. If your interview goes well you will get accepted.

Also, are you from the Virginia/Appalachian region? I know that VCOM is HUGE on that for invites.
 
Not to be super nosey or anything, but I was wondering what some people's gpas and MCATs were that received interviews or got accepted. I was very surprised(but ecstatic) to get an interview at VCOM but my MCAT is not the best. I have heard about people like me having good interviews and still getting rejected because of this. Does anyone think this is the case at VCOM? My highest individual combined score is a 23, but my highest individual test is a 21, my gpa is high, at 3.64c and 3.60s, and the rest of my application is very strong(rural area, ecs, lors, leadership, etc.). I am also a grad student at PCOM. Any help would be great.

VCOM actually favors GPA over MCAT, so I think you still have a chance of being accepted if you interview well.
 
Thanks guys, I appreaciate the encouragment. 🙂
I'm from Eastern - rural side of NC
 
I just got my secondary. Does your pre-med committee letter count as your letter from a "pre-med" advisor. I know they insist on a DO letter, but I thought the wording was strange on the second letter.....almost like they didn't want a committee letter, or a compilation letter......
Any thoughts?
 
Grrrr!! IT IS NOT JUST NUMBERS!! Not to get crazy but don't fall in to this trap. Look at the interview stats for almost any D.O. school. With the exception of CCOM, which is like 50%, well over 50% of those interviewed get accepted. If your interview goes well you will get accepted.

Also, are you from the Virginia/Appalachian region? I know that VCOM is HUGE on that for invites.


I am total agreement with looking at the whole person and not just the numbers and I just want to say best of luck and I know you will make a great physician! 👍
 
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just got an interview invite for 10/19... I've never been to VA, but I am expecting good things.
 
I'm from a rural, underserved town in Colorado. I'm very impressed with VCOM's commitment to primary care in such areas, but a few questions:

1. Will being from Colorado hurt me if I can speak with passion (and experience) about rural medicine? (GPA 3.9 and MCAT 28R)
2. In the secondary app question about the health care situation in the U.S., will it suffice to just talk about the desperation in rural towns? Or should I talk about socialized medicine too?

Any light on this, as well as other miscellaneous suggestions would be big help! Thanks and congrats to everyone accepted!
 
Well, just as another pre-med, I would say that you have a great shot. Your stats are great and your focus for rural medicine is key. VCOM does take applicants mainly from the appalachian states, but I think you have a very good chance of being accepted. As far as your second question, I think as long as you are passionate about what you are taking about and have good reasoning to back it up it will not matter that much. However, these questions might be better answered by a VCOM student.
 
Anyone else have an interview tomorrow?

-->Nervous
 
They called me today at 11am and told me I was accepted! 🙂 YAY!
 
If you don't mind me asking, what were your MCAT scores and gpa?
 
My GPA is a 4.0 and my MCAT is a 29. However, I had the first interview set, and I would assume that the stats of the applicants will slack off for the next couple of interviews (then rise back up when it gets competitive again).

As far as the interviews go...there were 3 interviewers (1-on-1). They were all very conversational. Two of the 3 were awesome. Just like having a convo with a random person. One of them, however, must have decided to been devil's advocate. He wasn't horrible--I mean I still left feeling confident about the interview--but I just got the impression he was testing me to see if I was going to back down from an opinion or idea because he harassed me. I hope that makes sense...I think it's kinda hard to explain. He asked me both very random off the wall questions, and (what I felt) was a very personal (sad) question.

Let me know if you have any more questions...I will be glad to help!
 
Thanks for the info. Actually I was called for the first set of interviews with a 3.64 gpa and a 21 mcat. But I had to bump mine a few weeks due to graduate schools tests. That's why I was curious because I am still very surprised I was called so early (sept 1). Thanks, what kind of questions were asked? Any differing from that on the interview forum?
 
I got in!!! ... i interviewed this past monday and got a call yesterday around 11 giving me the good news 🙂!!
 
Congradulations all who got into VCOM. If you end up here, I am sure you will like it.

If you have any questions about the school, feel free to PM me.
 
I just sent my secondary back so I have some questions:



Do they call you after the secondary for an interview or send an e-mail? How long after?

How long after your interview do they call you if accepted?

What was the most difficult interview question you got?

All the accepted Congrats! Please share Wisdom! Thanks
 
I just sent my secondary back so I have some questions:



Do they call you after the secondary for an interview or send an e-mail? How long after?

How long after your interview do they call you if accepted?

What was the most difficult interview question you got?

All the accepted Congrats! Please share Wisdom! Thanks

I got a phone call about 2.5 weeks after I sent in my 2ndary. I haven't interviewed yet so I can't speak to that but if I were you I'd check the interview feedback section.
 
Congrats to everyone who was accepted!!!! Hope you choose to join us at vcom!!! I'm so excited to meet everyone...there is a group on facebook so we can all start to meet each other!
 
anyone know anything about vcom's rotations? are they all in a centralized area, or will students have to move around? are they mostly ward based? any info will be appreciated.
 
so, for those of you who have already interviewed... did anyone fly into roanoke? how did you get to blacksburg? additionally, anyone who stayed at the marriot in blacksburg, did they offer any sort of shuttle service?

thanks!
 
I ran across this school while compiling my list of schools to apply to. I must say I am very impressed. I am really interested in the D.O./PhD program. Are any of you that have been accepted participating in it?
 
so, for those of you who have already interviewed... did anyone fly into roanoke? how did you get to blacksburg? additionally, anyone who stayed at the marriot in blacksburg, did they offer any sort of shuttle service?

thanks!


if you fly into Roanoke, you can catch the Smart Bus from the Roanoke Airport to Blacksburg in which there is a stop near the VCOM campus. You may want to look into the bus schedule as they only come by at certain times of the day. Just google Smart Bus and Roanoke and you should find it. Part of the Valley Metro System. I use it to commute to Blacksburg every once ina while. Cool bus, i think it is $3 or $5 to ride and it has free WiFi access!!! Cant tell you much about hotels unfortunately. Definitely call the school to see if any nearby hotels offer Intervew rates. Sometimes you can nab an amazing deal that way. Other than that, the Hyatt in Roanoke, right next to the airport, is incredible and sometimes you can get a room for under $75 depending on the day.
 
Actually, VCOM is changing the DO/PhD program into a DO/MPH joint degree. Virginia Tech is opening a new school of public health, so the PhD in Global Health will be changed into an MPH degree.


Really?? When is that supposed to go into effect if you know?
 
Actually, VCOM is changing the DO/PhD program into a DO/MPH joint degree. Virginia Tech is opening a new school of public health, so the PhD in Global Health will be changed into an MPH degree.


This program sounds great.. wonder whether this will be open for already accepted students (VCOM 2014)
 
A satellite campus as in spreading out the current number of students at VCOM or an additional campus with additional students??
 
Anyone know when the satellite campus is opening in SC?

The branch campus is set to open in 2011.

A satellite campus as in spreading out the current number of students at VCOM or an additional campus with additional students??

No, they will be opening up a new campus that will have about 100 students I think.

Here's a link to the article.
 
Oh my,

I just got a call that I am invited to an interview. I am so happy. YAY.

They offered me a day on the 27th, but I can only attend on Mondays, so I changed it to Nov. 9. YAY
 
Oh my,

I just got a call that I am invited to an interview. I am so happy. YAY.

They offered me a day on the 27th, but I can only attend on Mondays, so I changed it to Nov. 9. YAY


congrads on the interview! if you dont mind me asking, when was your secondary completed?
 
I really do hate to be the one who tries to break up the interview/acceptance party, but as a moral and ethical human being I feel that I must be truthful with all of you. By now you are (or should be) aware of the fact that your choice of medical school is one of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime. You will spend an exorbitant amount of money to fund your education and you will make more personal sacrifices than most of your other friends and family members. As such, you should expect to be treated fairly and receive the best education possible. Unfortunately, you will not receive these things at VCOM. Sorry - there is not a nicer way of saying this.

I was once in the same place all of you are right now. I was bedazzled by the admissions office, exposed to the students who would say great things about the school even if they were forced to kick a puppy every time they walked through the doors, told of the innovative plans for the future, told of how all professors and administrators have an "open-door" policy, and presented with a curriculum that I was comfortable would work for me and allow me to achieve my fullest potential. Unfortunately, the school that was portrayed to me is very different than the one that actually exists.

There are too many details to be discussed in a single post. My advice (please take it) is to contact random people who are attending or have attended VCOM. DO NOT make the mistake of allowing VCOM employees or students who wear the "VCOM underpants" to be your only sources of information. If you choose not to take my advice or you decide to attend anyway, then be aware that things (schedules, curriculum, syllabi, test weights, etc, etc) will change (often retroactively) without regard to your best interest.
 
For everyone who ahs completed the secondary..................

There are many problems facing healthcare in America today. Describe your interpretation of the status of healthcare in the United States today and those challenges the patients and physicians of tomorrow will face.

How did you answer this? Did you give a comprehensive summary of healthcare in the U.S., or focus on one aspect? The way the Q is worded makes it seem like they want a comprehensive summary, but with only 1/2 page, I don't see how you could do that very thoroughly. Any feedback would be great - thanks!
 
I really do hate to be the one who tries to break up the interview/acceptance party, but as a moral and ethical human being I feel that I must be truthful with all of you. By now you are (or should be) aware of the fact that your choice of medical school is one of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime. You will spend an exorbitant amount of money to fund your education and you will make more personal sacrifices than most of your other friends and family members. As such, you should expect to be treated fairly and receive the best education possible. Unfortunately, you will not receive these things at VCOM. Sorry - there is not a nicer way of saying this.

I was once in the same place all of you are right now. I was bedazzled by the admissions office, exposed to the students who would say great things about the school even if they were forced to kick a puppy every time they walked through the doors, told of the innovative plans for the future, told of how all professors and administrators have an "open-door" policy, and presented with a curriculum that I was comfortable would work for me and allow me to achieve my fullest potential. Unfortunately, the school that was portrayed to me is very different than the one that actually exists.

There are too many details to be discussed in a single post. My advice (please take it) is to contact random people who are attending or have attended VCOM. DO NOT make the mistake of allowing VCOM employees or students who wear the "VCOM underpants" to be your only sources of information. If you choose not to take my advice or you decide to attend anyway, then be aware that things (schedules, curriculum, syllabi, test weights, etc, etc) will change (often retroactively) without regard to your best interest.
Ok. you got my attention... However if you a first year, your opinion may not need to be taken as seriously, because you have only been in school for 2 months. I don't mean that in a nasty way, but, if you put up a post like that and don't explain specifically what you are referring to than it's hard to take seriously. Please expand on your post. I feel exactly as you said you did, that VCOM will provide me with the best education, is this not true? VCOM has only be open for less than 7 years ofcoarse they will be making continued adjustments to the curriculm, etc. What exactly are you referring to, and how has it not benefitted the students, and who is benefitting then?
 
Ok. you got my attention... However if you a first year, your opinion may not need to be taken as seriously, because you have only been in school for 2 months. I don't mean that in a nasty way, but, if you put up a post like that and don't explain specifically what you are referring to than it's hard to take seriously. Please expand on your post. I feel exactly as you said you did, that VCOM will provide me with the best education, is this not true? VCOM has only be open for less than 7 years ofcoarse they will be making continued adjustments to the curriculm, etc. What exactly are you referring to, and how has it not benefitted the students, and who is benefitting then?

Not a first year. If I was, I would agree completely. I'll PM you.
 
They were pretty fast.
I was complete on 10/7 and got the call on 10/9 after 5 pm.


I am little bit bumped about the negative stuff I read on some of the interview posts, and the above posts.

I know I I have to take everything with a grain of salt I read here, but I would like to hear more about (specific experiences) about students who have a negative experience there, and from students who have a positive experience there.

I think I am realistic, I know every relatively "new school" changes their curriculum as time goes. I know students from PCOM-GA who told me the same thing about their school.

I would like to know/hear about students if it is possible.

I am still excited about the school and my interview.
Thanks
 
For everyone who ahs completed the secondary..................

There are many problems facing healthcare in America today. Describe your interpretation of the status of healthcare in the United States today and those challenges the patients and physicians of tomorrow will face.

How did you answer this? Did you give a comprehensive summary of healthcare in the U.S., or focus on one aspect? The way the Q is worded makes it seem like they want a comprehensive summary, but with only 1/2 page, I don't see how you could do that very thoroughly. Any feedback would be great - thanks!

No, I personally, did not summarized the problems. I wrote about my experiences, the patients I met and what difficulties they are facing. I think they want you to write about how your interpret the problems through your experiences.
That's what I did.
 
You should be wary of advice from any source, especially on the internet. And I'm definitely not one of those students wearing "VCOM underpants".

Every school will have some cheerleaders, and every school will have some utterly bitter and hateful students. You need to gather as many opinions as possible about your prospective schools. If you look hard enough, then you'll see which opinions are the general consensus and which opinions are the outliers.

Okay, if my advice would somehow be more valid in person rather than "on the internet," then I'll be more than happy to talk to anyone if/when they come to Blacksburg. I also agree (as I said in my first post) that potential students should talk to a representative sample of students. Will they get that on interview day? Heck no. They will get the cheerleaders.

I don't mean to be rude, but the fact of the matter is that you are 8 weeks into the first year, which is hardly enough time to have noticed trends/recurring problems. Plus, you have only been exposed to a very small subset (the best subset I might add) of the faculty. Remember, I and 170+ other people have already been where you are right now. I'm simply pointing out issues that I wish had been pointed out to me - it's that simple. Some people have a very high tolerance for lack of organization, changes that occur overnight, and being screwed over in general - God love em' for it. I, however, hard working people deserve more for $33650/year.
 
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