VCU interviews

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sorry to post again, but had a question. for anyone that interviewed or is interviewing at VCU, where did you guys stay? i'm totally lost as to where to look for hotels. i appreciate your input. also, where did you guys fly into? richmond or DC? i'm thinking about flying into DC and renting a car, it's much cheaper than flying into richmond. thanks people. take care.
 
Not to get too far off the subject.

I am still perplexed on why I didn't get a secondary from them. My numbers are over 10% higher than their average acceptance.

I have been offered interviews at a lot higher ranked schools. However, I really like Richmond and was hoping to get into VCU.

Does anyone have some insight?
 
They are a state school... are you from VA?
 
Originally posted by StrngoutAS
They are a state school... are you from VA?
Click to expand...

I am not from VA, however, I thought they accepted 40% out of state?
It seems to me that most people that apply are from out of state.


Let me know if I did some faulty research.
 
Yeah my friend was in the same boat earlier. I think they just really try to screen quite a bit in terms of out of state applicants. Having somewhat above average numbers in comparison to them is misleading b/c I imagine out of state residents are given somehwat of a higher judgement scale.
 
I was recently informed that I was rejected from VCU (pre-secondary, just like the OP). I was a bit perplexed by this as well, given their average GPA and MCAT scores, but I am also not a Virginia resident. Even though they accept around 40% out-of-staters, they must have higher standards for us so that they can make some exceptions for Virginia residents. That makes sense.

I thought it was somewhat cheap and informal that they sent me an email saying "there has been a chance in your status." I went to the website, and it said "we have decided not to pursue your application any further...it is not our policy to offer applicants a reason for being rejected."

I got the feeling that they spent all of five minutes on my application, possibly didn't even read my personal statement, etc. Heck, spending the time to send me a rejection letter via snail mail would've been nice. :laugh:

It was my first rejection, and the cool thing about it is that the idea of not going to VCU didn't bother me at all. I just laughed.

Any other fun VCU experiences?
 
For those interviewing at VCU, I highly recommend staying with a student. I contacted a student off their student host volunteer list and she was great! I got a unique perspective of student life at VCU and life in Richmond. Plus, I saved about $80.


As for their screening process, I think they really value EC's. I am out of state and was accepted to VCU in October with a 3.35 Science GPA and a 27 MCAT. But I have really wonderful experiences and probably great LOR's. VCU is a school that looks for "well-rounded" applicants.
 
mimi, congrats on your acceptance! and thanks for the advice.
 
I agree that they select more well rounded applicants rather than just high numbers. Last year I applied as an out-of-stater with a 26 MCAT and 3.1 GPA undergraduate. They invited me to fill out a secondary but never invited me for an interview. This year I improved my MCAT, filled out the secondary and am waiting for that interview invite. I think they gave me a secondary because I have extensive research experience, a Masters degree and quite a bit of volunteer work. They aren't that concerned with numbers, rather the overall quality of the applicants.


Herp
 
I interviewed at MCV a while back (out-of-state), and hope to hear back from them on 12/15 when they send out their next batch of acceptances. After the interview, we sat down with the dean of admissions and she basically spelled out how the process works from the interview point. She emphasized that while they do admit ~40% out of staters, those on the committee don't know your state of residence. The committee votes on your application (scale 1-5, 1 being highest), and then your name gets added to one of two lists: in-state or out-of-state. On the acceptance date, they may say, "ok let's admit 50 students", so they take 20 from the out-of-state list and 30 from in-state list. However, they don't hold out-of-staters to a higher standard.

I agree with the above posts--they do focus moreso on EC's and LOR's, as your application gets an initial review by an ACTUAL person before you are given a secondary/interview, as opposed to doing a numerical cutoff. I know a bunch of students there that had average gpa/mcat that got accepted over those with higher statistics.
 
I liked MCV alot when i interviewed there...more than i expected. but i got the deal from the secretary as to who gets secondaries...what they look for especially for out of state students is NOT mcats very much...in fact, the gpa is over-valued at MCV and ECs. They like people having had not only science related activities but other random activities. I have a 26 MCAT, 3.9 gpa from a very competitive and respected school, and amazing ECs (no i'm not trying to brag...they were really cool experiences that made me want to enter medicine) that have little to do with science. she said they liked that so i got a secondary and interview.
she really stressed that MCATs weren't the most important thing. though they do have a 25 cut-off for out of state residents.
 
Originally posted by mimi1
For those interviewing at VCU, I highly recommend staying with a student. I contacted a student off their student host volunteer list and she was great! I got a unique perspective of student life at VCU and life in Richmond. Plus, I saved about $80.


As for their screening process, I think they really value EC's. I am out of state and was accepted to VCU in October with a 3.35 Science GPA and a 27 MCAT. But I have really wonderful experiences and probably great LOR's. VCU is a school that looks for "well-rounded" applicants.
Click to expand...

I'm an out of stater non-URM. Decent GPA 3.5 MCAT 32 and will be interviewing on Dec. 8th. I have a broad range of post-sec experiences: Clinical, Comparative Religious Studies, Research Publications, Leadership Stuff, Teaching...

My feeling is that they picked up my app because of the Comparative Religious Studies, Leadership and Teaching experience. It seems that everyone else already has Clinical and Research Experience (It's almost a given).

Just my thoughts...
 
Hey Everyone


I was curious how long it took you all to hear about interviews at VCU? I am out of state, go to a VA college and was given a secondary and I was just curious about turn around time, thanks!
 
i sent my secondary and LOR's to VCU sometime in september. i was complete on oct. 14th and received an interview invite on nov. 14th, for dec. 15th. keep in mind though, i was first placed on the hold list, and then surprisingly two days later, i got the email for an interview. good luck!
 
Originally posted by Jherr
Hey Everyone


I was curious how long it took you all to hear about interviews at VCU? I am out of state, go to a VA college and was given a secondary and I was just curious about turn around time, thanks!
Click to expand...

Hey, I go to a VA college too. About interviews, you've got to keep in mind that MCV is having a record application season, so they're moving far behind, and you shouldn't be worried if you haven't heard from them in a while. As for me, I was complete in mid-August, interviewed in early September, accepted 10/15. Turnaround time was quick way back when I interviewed, but I hear it's been really busy lately... last year they had 4,000 total apps, but they'd hit the 4,000 mark by early October this year!

Best of luck and feel free to PM me if you have any specific q's,

TF
 
Any difference between interview before and after December 15th?
Thanks
 
Originally posted by StrngoutAS
They are a state school... are you from VA?
Click to expand...

VCU is the only state school I know that accepts ALMOST as many out of staters as they do instaters, especially in the last 2 years due to budget problems the state is having. Instate undergrads from VCU have really been pissed off the last few years at the increasing numbers of out of staters they take.

VCU took ~42% out of staters in 2002 compared with West Virginia University that took ~3% of out of staters, East Carolina - 0% taken from out of state, UNC -~1%, Tenn -~1%, etc....

As to places to stay, I listed them in a previous post. The link is below.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=83695&highlight=VCU+hotels

If the link isn't working. Then here is my post from that thread.
Here are your best picks for close but still safe. You may have about a 20 to 45 minute drive depending on morning rush hour.

Good luck.

Richmond - Days Inn W Broad
2100 Dickens Road
Richmond, Virginia 23230
United States
804-282-3300

http://www.daysinn.com/DaysInn/cont...ing/check_avail


8901 Brook Road
Glen Allen
804-553-8395
http://www.shoneysinn.com/property.cfm?property_id=74


Richmond - I-64 - West Broad Street, VA
StudioPLUS Deluxe Studios

http://www.extendedstay.com/locations.html


Welcome to Hampton Inn Richmond-Airport
5300 Airport Square Lane, Sandston, VA 23150
Tel: 1-804-222-8200 Fax: 1-804-222-4915
http://www.hamptoninn.com/en/hp/hot...ctyhocn=RICATHX


Welcome to Hampton Inn Richmond-West
10800 West Broad St., Glen Allen, VA 23060-3366
Tel: 1-804-747-7777 Fax: 1-804-747-7069
http://www.hamptoninn.com/en/hp/hot...ctyhocn=RICWEHX

Here are two more. All with easy access to I-64.
SUPER 8 MOTEL - RICHMOND/BROAD STREET
7200 W. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23294 US
Phone: 804-672-8128 Fax: 807-672-8128 Ext. 319

http://www.hamptoninn.com/en/hp/hot...ctyhocn=RICWEHX


Courtyard Richmond West
6400 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23230
USA
Phone: 1 804-282-1881
Fax: 1 804-288-2934

http://www.marriott.com/dpp/Propert...arshaCode=RICWE
 
As to those of you who fly into D.C. to save money..... BEWARE!!

The traffic between D.C. and Richmond can be SOOOOOO brutal. It should take a little over 2 hours, however you can be looking at 3 to 4 +++hours depending on traffic. One time it took me 5 hours due to traffic. I used to go back and forth between the two cities when I was preparing to move to the D.C. area.

My advice is to get there the day before and leave the day after your interview or on a late flight with PLENTY of time to get to the airport. D.C. traffic IS AWFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It can take an hour to go 2 miles. Find out if it is worth the money saved to have an AGONIZING trip between the two cities. Or hope you are lucky and there is no traffic on the day you come in or go home.

I can't wait to move to the nice rural town where my school will be next year.

The only difference in interviews after 12-15 is that there are less seats left. They will accept people up till 8-12 so you have time.
 
Originally posted by Amy B


The only difference in interviews after 12-15 is that there are less seats left. They will accept people up till 8-12 so you have time.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Amy. To be more specific, is it unwise to postpone the interview from 12-10-02 to 12-17-03?
 
I don't see a big difference b/c 12-10 doesn't really give your interviewer a whole lot of leeway time to meet with the admissions committee and have a vote take place on your application.
 
Originally posted by StrngoutAS
I don't see a big difference b/c 12-10 doesn't really give your interviewer a whole lot of leeway time to meet with the admissions committee and have a vote take place on your application.
Click to expand...
That's what I'm wondering too. Anyone else have insight on this?
 
There will be no difference in interviewing the 10 or the 17th. The committee will not meet about your file before the 15th when the next batch of acceptances will go out. If it was before the 10th, maybe the 1st, you may have had a chance to have them meet before the 15th but not likely.

When I applied there, they met on Thursdays, but it might have changed.

I would say go on the 17th and know that it wouldn't have made any difference if you had interviewed on the 10th.

Plus they are behind this year so they are probably not going to get to December interviewees before the 15th batch goes out. I may be wrong on that, but I have a pretty good handle on how things operate at MC/VCU.
 
OK, it's like this: The committee meets every Wednesday to give interviewed candidates from the past week a numerical "score." This score will then be the basis of your rank among all other interviewed applicants from other past weeks. So if you interviewed the day before the committee hearing (Tuesday), you will still be scored and ranked with all previous applicants.

12/15 happens to be on a Monday, and the last committee hearing before they send out the decisions on 12/15 will be then on Wednesday 12/10. Thus, the last hypothetical day you could interview to still be considered for the 12/15 acceptance date is Tuesday 12/9. It would probably be in your best interest to try to interview and get scored/ranked before they make the 12/15 decisions, primarily because they will have more open acceptance slots to offer than on later dates, i.e. Jan. or March.

Best of luck,

TF
 
Originally posted by TheFlash
OK, it's like this: The committee meets every Wednesday to give interviewed candidates from the past week a numerical "score." This score will then be the basis of your rank among all other interviewed applicants from other past weeks. So if you interviewed the day before the committee hearing (Tuesday), you will still be scored and ranked with all previous applicants.

12/15 happens to be on a Monday, and the last committee hearing before they send out the decisions on 12/15 will be then on Wednesday 12/10. Thus, the last hypothetical day you could interview to still be considered for the 12/15 acceptance date is Tuesday 12/9. It would probably be in your best interest to try to interview and get scored/ranked before they make the 12/15 decisions, primarily because they will have more open acceptance slots to offer than on later dates, i.e. Jan. or March.

Best of luck,

TF
Click to expand...

This is correct, however it is based on the assumption that they are not behind and are caught up with the interviewees and will get to people the same week they interviewed. Fat chance of that since they are behind at the present time.
 
Originally posted by Amy B
This is correct, however it is based on the assumption that they are not behind and are caught up with the interviewees and will get to people the same week they interviewed. Fat chance of that since they are behind at the present time.
Click to expand...

Hmm, when I was there in Sept., the dean said they were moving along on time. But I think you're probably right that they're behind now, mostly because of Hurricane Isabel blasting the entire area around Richmond and Tidewater.

Anyway, best of luck to everyone. VCU/MCV is an up and coming place!

TF
 
Thanks everybody.

For the return flight from Richmond to California, is one hour plenty of time to connect the planes in Atlanta?

Applications, Interviews, Acceptances, Matriculations
Virginia Commonwealth University-Medical College of Virginia Admissions

Total: 3,632 611 384 180 In state: 774 316 215 112
Out of state: 2,858 295 169 68 Women: 1,739 317 201 87
Minorities: 1,418 159 122 58 International: N/A N/A N/A N/A
Acceptance rate: 10.6%

It would be nice to know how many of the out of state minorities were matriculated. My best guess is about 21-22.
 
calcrew,

i think one hour would be alright. were you able to find a ticket to richmond from cali under $500? i can't seem to find any deals flying into richmond, which is why i was considering flying into DC and then driving to richmond, but then i realized that would just be too outrageous. anyway, best of luck to ya and to everyone else!
 
Originally posted by UCIgrad2002
calcrew,

i think one hour would be alright. were you able to find a ticket to richmond from cali under $500? i can't seem to find any deals flying into richmond, which is why i was considering flying into DC and then driving to richmond, but then i realized that would just be too outrageous. anyway, best of luck to ya and to everyone else!
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, no. Looks like the best trip from Cal-North is from Oakland, about $525. But I can't do it therefrom.

The best possible price for me right now is about $550. But I will have to stay over at least 2 nights, Sunday and Monday. Otherwise it is $680 to $750, if I have the luck that you wish me.

Best of luck to you and everybody too.
 
In case one doesn't want to stay over more than one night, best interview days for Cali applicants should be Monday and Wednesday. Cheaper tickets are available for Thursday inteview but one must stay over two nights. Tuesday is the most terrible day, I think. VCU doesn't interview on Friday.

Travelocity and American Airline have come to my rescue for a tiny bit less than $500. Two nights in Richmond for Thursday interview saves a few hundreds of $, especially if one has a company.

For those who don't call one of the student hosts. Quality Inn and Suites at 201 East Cary Street may be helpful. Only two stars rating but economically $50-55 per day bundled in the package with plane tickets. .9 mile from Sanger Hall should take only 16 minutes of running, right? A nice warming up in the cold winter weather. 😀

Alamo has 20% discount. One can have two days of mid-sizer for about $69 plus fees and tax.

Good luck to all. It would be nice to bring some-active-body from the Lounge with you to keep you warm.
:idea: 👍 :meanie: 😀
 
yo, just wanted to let everyone know who's interviewing at VCU that orbitz has pretty decent rates to virginia. i just picked up a package deal for a two night stay at hotel plus airfare for just under 5 bills from cali, which i thought was okay. i heard travelocity has some good deals as well. anyway, just thought i'd share this info. take care and best of luck to all.
 
Hey everyone, just a quick question for those of you that have already interviewed at VCU. Any last minute interview tips? I read up on interview feedback and it seems to be a pretty straightforward interview, but I guess you can never be too sure. Also, does the city of Richmond encompass a diverse population? I'm assuming it does, since it's on the east coast, but don't know for sure. Thanks for any help and best of luck to all!
 
You are correct, Richmond is quite diverse. Different areas are more diverse then some other parts of town.

The interviews are pretty straight forward with no surprises. There is only one interview, and a few info sessions and a tour led my med students. They will come and get you and tell you where you need to walk to get to your interviewers location.

Good luck
 
Anyone heard from VCU lately for an interview? I have been complete for going on 2 months now and was curious what was up..thanks!
 
Fly into norfolk, Southwest flies in there and the drive is only about 2 hours and not much traffic
 
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