VCOM MABS 2020-2021

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Nala_Dawn said:
Current student. I met the GPA requirement, as well as about 60 others in my class for the December benchmarks. I can tell you this. The program is not an easy in for med school. You will have to put in work. That being said, that is the entire point. To help prepare students for medical school curriculum and get them into med school, helping you learn how to perform well in classes and improve your studying. If you slack off, or decide to not put in 100%, then it might be hard to you to meet the GPA requirements. Plus, how well/quickly you learn, or your previous exposure to the subjects all factor in also. Needless to say, this program is hard, but it is not impossible. I think last year, there was about 90-110 of the ~125 that made it by May. Some students drop, some don't meet benchmarks, and some decide to do PA or pod school. One of my classmates made a great point during week one that stuck with me. It is only ~10 months of my life. If I give 100% and fail, I can say that at least I tried, because I would rather try and not succeed than slack off and fail, knowing I could have done better.
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Thanks for responding, I actually tried to PM you but for some reason it’s not allowing me to. I love everything you said! If there is some way that we can pm please let me know. Don’t wanna ask too many questions here
 
Curious about how many LOR's people submitted? I just submitted my app. with 3, and am wondering if I should have gotten more, or if 3 good ones are enough (I know no-one will have a definite answer, just in my head and curious to hear opinions)
 
Can I have my chem professor submit my academic letter? And physician I shadowed? I will have 2 letters. Or do we have to have committee letter?
 
Futurebonedoc said:
Can I have my chem professor submit my academic letter? And physician I shadowed? I will have 2 letters. Or do we have to have committee letter?
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I believe that the Physician one should count for Professional, and the chem professor should count for Academic (science faculty member). I did not do a committee letter, my academic one is from a professor who taught a lab (she's a science faculty member)
 
FuturePsych14 said:
I believe that the Physician one should count for Professional, and the chem professor should count for Academic (science faculty member). I did not do a committee letter, my academic one is from a professor who taught a lab (she's a science faculty member)
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Thank you. I saw your post. I think that's more than enough. You'll be fine. Due to this virus, it's hard to reach my professors. Makes applying harder lol
 
A few quick q's:

Which category of experiences does Shadowing fall under? I can't find the answer online.
Also, clinical experiences (not compensated), such as EMS, goes under Volunteer, right?

Congrats to everyone accepted so far!! 🙂
 
FuturePsych14 said:
A few quick q's:

Which category of experiences does Shadowing fall under? I can't find the answer online.
Also, clinical experiences (not compensated), such as EMS, goes under Volunteer, right?

Congrats to everyone accepted so far!! 🙂
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I put it under volunteer. It shouldn't be problem.
 
Jasmine W said:
I received my acceptance this morning as well. Im looking for a female room!
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congrats when did you submitted your application and how lon it takes , i received email its in que 3/8/20
 
zamem said:
congrats when did you submitted your application and how lon it takes , i received email its in que 3/8/20
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Thank you! I initially submitted my app Jan 15, under initial review Jan 22, under final review Mar 2, and received my acceptance email Mar 23.

Have you called to inquire about your status despite the email? I will say that I called and/or email either every week or every other week. I wanted to make sure that they remembered my name, and genuinely tried to make a connection with whomever I was speaking with. Although it still took a while and many conversations to get my app reviewed and selected, I wholeheartedly believe that doing that worked in my favor.

I definitely hope you all the best, and if this is your top choice, I hope to see you in the fall 🙂
 
Jasmine W said:
Thank you! I initially submitted my app Jan 15, under initial review Jan 22, under final review Mar 2, and received my acceptance email Mar 23.

Have you called to inquire about your status despite the email? I will say that I called and/or email either every week or every other week. I wanted to make sure that they remembered my name, and genuinely tried to make a connection with whomever I was speaking with. Although it still took a while and many conversations to get my app reviewed and selected, I wholeheartedly believe that doing that worked in my favor.

I definitely hope you all the best, and if this is your top choice, I hope to see you in the fall 🙂
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thanks
 
Hey I applied in February, never got a confirmation email, or any notice of any kind, what could have gone wrong? the application was fully completed.


my worry is one of my rec letter writers accidentally wrote a name of another program I applied for instead of saying "Bluefield-VCOM" and in doing so they could have just discarded my application
 
I have also applied and I am just waiting for an admissions decision. My app was submitted and is under initial review as of 3/25/2020.
 
I will be turning down my seat so I hope one of you guys get it.
 
Does anyone happen to know if they will accept LORs via email? Mine are all in Interfolio.
 
I also received my acceptance on Monday. I am looking for a roommate as well. Looking forward to seeing yall!
 
One more thing, is having a car something that will make my life easier and like a necessity? I have looked at the location of where everything is at and it seems like a lot of things are semi a distance away. I am from California so I am just trying to see if I would need to ship my car or not. Thanks for the help in advance.
 
Ant__Man said:
One more thing, is having a car something that will make my life easier and like a necessity? I have looked at the location of where everything is at and it seems like a lot of things are semi a distance away. I am from California so I am just trying to see if I would need to ship my car or not. Thanks for the help in advance.
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Even if you live at the apartments closest to the classroom and decided to walk to class, it would be at least a 10-15 minute walk. I recommend having a car because while it looks smaller and relatively close to everything, its deceiving. It takes me 15 minutes to get to class. 15 to get to Christiansburg where Walmart is located. 20 minutes to my friends apartment. And 20 minutes to get to my gym, but you wouldn't expect it looking at a map.
 
Nala_Dawn said:
Even if you live at the apartments closest to the classroom and decided to walk to class, it would be at least a 10-15 minute walk. I recommend having a car because while it looks smaller and relatively close to everything, its deceiving. It takes me 15 minutes to get to class. 15 to get to Christiansburg where Walmart is located. 20 minutes to my friends apartment. And 20 minutes to get to my gym, but you wouldn't expect it looking at a map.
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I figured as much that I would need a car... Dang it. Another added cost that I didn't want to add. Thanks for the information, such a big help.
 
Ant__Man said:
I figured as much that I would need a car... Dang it. Another added cost that I didn't want to add. Thanks for the information, such a big help.
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I completely understand. There is at least 3 students from California, and one from Washington who had to make the drive all the way across the states for the program. If the virus lets up where you can more safely travel during that time, it might be fun to plan a longer travel time and hit up some cool parts of the US you haven't seen before at the very least!
 
Nala_Dawn said:
I completely understand. There is at least 3 students from California, and one from Washington who had to make the drive all the way across the states for the program. If the virus lets up where you can more safely travel during that time, it might be fun to plan a longer travel time and hit up some cool parts of the US you haven't seen before at the very least!
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Hey Nala,

Did they decide what to do with the upcoming medical school classes considering the current situation? I mean for the DO class of 2024


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Does anyone know when the last day they send out admissions? Anyone still waiting to hear back from admissions??
 
StudentDocGoals said:
Does anyone know when the last day they send out admissions? Anyone still waiting to hear back from admissions??
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My friend was accepted the week before classes start so people may find out last minute. And as someone else said, classes begin late July.
 
dinanina97 said:
Hey Nala,

Did they decide what to do with the upcoming medical school classes considering the current situation? I mean for the DO class of 2024


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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I think from the last statement you mean what they decided for us about benchmarks and potential changes as a result of COVID-19. If so, then the benchmarks have not changed. Those of us who met benchmarks still have to maintain our GPA to keep the seat, and those who did not meet benchmarks in December will have to reach the same ones set when school began. However, they are adding a curve to our final grades. They will see what the average grades for the past 2 years were, and use that to curve us. However, that may or may not help some people and a ton of my classmates who didn't meet benchmarks in December are very concerned they won't in December due to the anxiety felt during online distance exams.

I hope that answered your question!
 
Nala_Dawn said:
I think from the last statement you mean what they decided for us about benchmarks and potential changes as a result of COVID-19. If so, then the benchmarks have not changed. Those of us who met benchmarks still have to maintain our GPA to keep the seat, and those who did not meet benchmarks in December will have to reach the same ones set when school began. However, they are adding a curve to our final grades. They will see what the average grades for the past 2 years were, and use that to curve us. However, that may or may not help some people and a ton of my classmates who didn't meet benchmarks in December are very concerned they won't in December due to the anxiety felt during online distance exams.

I hope that answered your question!
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But don’t you guys have to meet the MCAT benchmark before the DO program starts in September. So what will they do for those that couldn’t retake their mcat?
 
helpers56 said:
But don’t you guys have to meet the MCAT benchmark before the DO program starts in September. So what will they do for those that couldn’t retake their mcat?
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Fortunately everyone who needed to retake their MCAT did so within the first few weeks of January when COVID-19 wasnt problematic. If there are others who may have planned on taking again, I'm not aware of them, nor what exceptions may be potentially made.
 
Has anyone heard anything? My app went into review on March 5th. I understand with everything going on things may be slowed down, but has anyone gotten an acceptance without a final review email?
 
Haven't heard of anything. My application went into review March also and they said it would take 2-4 weeks so maybe we would be going to final review soon.
 
Does anyone know if the application due April 14 at 11:59 pm or April 15 at 11:59 pm?
 
Any Texas residents or people from the Southern states applying and have been accepted so far? @Nala_Dawn you have been so helpful with answering questions, can you let me know if the students in your cycle were from all across the states or mostly VA?
 
bookwormgal said:
Any Texas residents or people from the Southern states applying and have been accepted so far? @Nala_Dawn you have been so helpful with answering questions, can you let me know if the students in your cycle were from all across the states or mostly VA?
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I’m from AZ. I applied at the end of September and got accepted at the end of February.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
bookwormgal said:
Any Texas residents or people from the Southern states applying and have been accepted so far? @Nala_Dawn you have been so helpful with answering questions, can you let me know if the students in your cycle were from all across the states or mostly VA?
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All across the US. I know we had Texas, Alabama, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Washington, California, Arizona, Georgia, Utah, and Michigan, on top of people from the states surrounding Virginia.
 
bookwormgal said:
Any Texas residents or people from the Southern states applying and have been accepted so far? @Nala_Dawn you have been so helpful with answering questions, can you let me know if the students in your cycle were from all across the states or mostly VA?
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Texas resident right here, I currently live in Houston and I'm planning to attend. Submitted my application in November, got accepted Jan 31.
 
Hey guys, I am also a current MABS student. Please PM me if you have any questions about the program. Nala has done a great job answering all of your questions but if you have more personal questions, don’t be afraid to reach out. Good luck to all applying and congrats to all that have been accepted.

Also, if any male students are looking for housing and doesn’t mind having roommates, PM me!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN
 
Hey everyone, I am looking for female roommate(s) so message me if interested.
 
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