VCU Screening process...?

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tp709

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Can anyone shed some light on the VCU pre-secondary screening process?
Do they actually read our applications? Or is a numbers-based thing?
Does anyone know if there is an mcat cut-off for out of state applicants?
The reason I'm asking is because I just got rejected pre-secondary (I'm an August mcat-er). Now, I'm totally fine with a rejection (I am expecting more rejections than not😉 ), I'm not heartbroken by any means....but pre-secondary?
If its not purely number-based (and my stats are at least on par with their averages, btw), does this mean that they thought my application SUCKED so much that I'm not even worth the consideration in their applicant pool?
...I am now scared of what is to come from the remaining schools 😳

and btw, their rejection msg is pretty condescending..like pouring salt in the open wound
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NervousNed said:
what were your stats
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3.5 (same for BCMP, from top 5 school)
27R (yes, I know this sucks, but isn't their average mcat only around a 28?)
really good ECs (and my premed office told me my application was 'unique' - so I doubt this was the problem)
Oh, and out of state. Maybe they have an MCAT cut-off for Oos applicants that I didn't make? But mdapps seems to prove otherwise...
 
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tp709 said:
3.5 (same for BCMP, from top 5 school)
27R (yes, I know this sucks, but isn't their average mcat only around a 28?)
really good ECs (and my premed office told me my application was 'unique' - so I doubt this was the problem)
Oh, and out of state. Maybe they have an MCAT cut-off for Oos applicants that I didn't make? But mdapps seems to prove otherwise...
Click to expand...

I don't think their average MCAT is a 28, but I could be wrong...
 
instigata said:
I don't think their average MCAT is a 28, but I could be wrong...
Click to expand...

according to my baarons med school book, mean mcat is like 9.1, 9.2, 9.8 or something to that effect (I looked it up today), and mean gpa is 3.5
 
tp709 said:
Can anyone shed some light on the VCU pre-secondary screening process?
Do they actually read our applications? Or is a numbers-based thing?
Does anyone know if there is an mcat cut-off for out of state applicants?
The reason I'm asking is because I just got rejected pre-secondary (I'm an August mcat-er). Now, I'm totally fine with a rejection (I am expecting more rejections than not😉 ), I'm not heartbroken by any means....but pre-secondary?
If its not purely number-based (and my stats are at least on par with their averages, btw), does this mean that they thought my application SUCKED so much that I'm not even worth the consideration in their applicant pool?
...I am now scared of what is to come from the remaining schools 😳

and btw, their rejection msg is pretty condescending..like pouring salt in the open wound
Click to expand...

that's really weird...have u looked at ur personal statement?..it could be that...or maybe a gpa cutoff, but i think ur gpa is good enough...what i do know from looking at past threads that they give out only about 1000 secondaries...and they do look at whole applicant...i dont think this really answers ur question...but some extra info u can think abt
 
Mr_Bihari said:
that's really weird...have u looked at ur personal statement?..it could be that...or maybe a gpa cutoff, but i think ur gpa is good enough...what i do know from looking at past threads that they give out only about 1000 secondaries...and they do look at whole applicant...i dont think this really answers ur question...but some extra info u can think abt
Click to expand...

yea, I and about 5 other people read through my personal statement...
if they do look at the whole applicant, then that scares me, because I *know* the rest of my application is 100x better than my numbers (esp. my mcat).
 
tp709 said:
yea, I and about 5 other people read through my personal statement...
if they do look at the whole applicant, then that scares me, because I *know* the rest of my application is 100x better than my numbers (esp. my mcat).
Click to expand...

well i would say that dont worry then. luck plays a big part in this process, and this is just one school and one part of the process. It could be that they were looking at really competitive ppl at the time of ur app. Anything is possible, but if u are worried that other schools might think the same as them, call them and see what happens. Worse come worse, they'll get mad and not answer, but it's worth trying to find out any sort details abt ur app, its review, and the pre-secondary rejection. Dont worry. Easier said than done...i know...
 
I would suggest calling. The guy who works there (I think his name is Kenny) is really really nice. He helped me out a lot when I made a stupid mistake on my secondary. See what the admissions office says. Like the above poster said, luck plays a HUGE role in this process. If you did research, and the person was totally against your research, that wouldn't look good...you know? I just threw out that example, but just hang in tight and hopefully you'll get the secondaries and hopefully interview invites you're getting nervous for. :luck:
 
thanks so much for the advice guys 🙂

I still really hope its just some formula I didn't make, and not that they thought my application as a whole was not worthy of their committee review 😛
Anyways, guess I'll be calling.

I wish better luck to you all with VCU:luck:
 
tp709 said:
thanks so much for the advice guys 🙂

I still really hope its just some formula I didn't make, and not that they thought my application as a whole was not worthy of their committee review 😛
Anyways, guess I'll be calling.

I wish better luck to you all with VCU:luck:
Click to expand...

actually, just thought of something...there IS a formula....search the past threads...im pretty sure I saw this, when I was searching the threads earlier. They definitely use them before and after the secondary...hope this helps :luck:
 
A friend of mine got secondary from VCU with 26L. She's an OOS too...
 
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cal_girl said:
A friend of mine got secondary from VCU with 26L. She's an OOS too...
Click to expand...

I know of people with 25s who got interviews there...
thats why this pre-sec rejection kinda freaked me out
 
I got a secondary with a 3.4 and a 30 S. But then was rejected pre-interview later on. Some of it really is a crap shoot.
 
Haemulon said:
I got a secondary with a 3.4 and a 30 S. But then was rejected pre-interview later on. Some of it really is a crap shoot.
Click to expand...

ehhh
who knows what they're looking for!
 
Haemulon said:
I got a secondary with a 3.4 and a 30 S. But then was rejected pre-interview later on. Some of it really is a crap shoot.
Click to expand...

When did u get rejection letter or email? I mean how many weeks after your file is complete?
Mine was complete around late september... still no news watsoever...
 
cal_girl said:
When did u get rejection letter or email? I mean how many weeks after your file is complete?
Mine was complete around late september... still no news watsoever...
Click to expand...

I was complete Sept 1st, got the rejection update October 7th. Not sure why, except if it was the out of whack distribution of my MCAT scores (13,7,10). There is no telling. I wonder if they would give me some insight if I called?
 
Haemulon said:
I was complete Sept 1st, got the rejection update October 7th. Not sure why, except if it was the out of whack distribution of my MCAT scores (13,7,10). There is no telling. I wonder if they would give me some insight if I called?
Click to expand...

the rejection message says that they don't give reasons for rejecting...
but maybe they'll tell you something if you tried. If they get mad, who cares, its not like you're getting in there anyways, right








http://www.mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?myid=06723
 
tp709 said:
the rejection message says that they don't give reasons for rejecting...
but maybe they'll tell you something if you tried. If they get mad, who cares, its not like you're getting in there anyways, right
Click to expand...

Ha. Yeh, true enough. They suggest talking with one's pre-med advisor, but I don't even have one. Oh well. I think i'll try to not tick them off since I may have to re-apply next year if this year does not work out. 🙁
 
I got a secondary 10/29, then on pre-interview hold 2 days later. Anyone else on pre-interview hold there, and do you know what percentage will get interviews?
 
Mr_Bihari said:
so did/are u going to call?
Click to expand...

yea I called. I didn't give my name, but asked how the process worked, and they said there is no MCAT cut-off and they do read over applications before sending out secondaries...its apparently not just a forumla. ugh. I really don't think my application is THAT bad to not even get a secondary (esp. bc it seems like most people do get secondaries from here) - you can look at my mdapps and judge for yourself if you're curious 😛
I hope SOMEWHERE will actually consider my application!

Gluck to the rest of you
 
tp709 said:
yea I called. I didn't give my name, but asked how the process worked, and they said there is no MCAT cut-off and they do read over applications before sending out secondaries...its apparently not just a forumla. ugh. I really don't think my application is THAT bad to not even get a secondary (esp. bc it seems like most people do get secondaries from here) - you can look at my mdapps and judge for yourself if you're curious 😛
I hope SOMEWHERE will actually consider my application!

Gluck to the rest of you
Click to expand...

woew...they rejected a lot of ppl post-secondary
 
also....this is from the website...

How many people get an interview?
Each year, the school of medicine will invite approximately 650 candidates for interview.

Thus, if the secondary says 60% of ppl who receive an interview are accepted, which I think it does. It did last year. Then a little over 1000 sounds about right.
 
allennh said:
No MCAT score in the double digits is what is hurting you.
Click to expand...

yes, I realize this. But I don't believe any of their average mcat scores are in the double digits either, hence why I applied.


Its amazing how one sick day can make you go down 6 points from your average practice tests, and ruin your chances. I already explained this to a few schools, and was told that if I retake in Jan. and do well, then they *may* consider it (if i haven't already been rejected at that point). We shall see. If not, there's always next year!
 
tp709 said:
yes, I realize this. But I don't believe any of their average mcat scores are in the double digits either, hence why I applied.


Its amazing how one sick day can make you go down 6 points from your average practice tests, and ruin your chances. I already explained this to a few schools, and was told that if I retake in Jan. and do well, then they *may* consider it (if i haven't already been rejected at that point). We shall see. If not, there's always next year!
Click to expand...

yes but averages are just that, averages. I agree, the MCAT is pretty unfair but it is the system and you have to follow it. I would wait on taking the mcat again. You should have a chance at one of your schools but if you dont get in this cycle then I would definately retake because that is what is hurting you. good luck:luck:
 
VCU, traditionally called MCV, reads your application before they send out secondaries. They tend to cut the applicant pool in half between primaries and secondaries. Last year they had around 5000 applicants. Of those secondaries that they send out, usually there are 650 interviews. Last year they tried something new and had 900 interviews but I beleive they decided to go back to the 650 this year. They tend to give out about 300+ acceptances but they never over book the class. That means at any one time there are no more than 184 people holding acceptances. They slowly build up to the 184 mark as the year goes on. So in october they give out around 25 acceptances. Another 50 or so in december and so on until they have given out 184.
There are 104 instate and 80 OOS.

For my class, the average MCAT is 29 and average GPA is around 3.5, however don't think you are a shoo in if you have a high MCAT. There are plenty of kids in my class with mid-to-high 30s on the MCAT and plenty more last year got rejected.
 
Instatewaiter said:
VCU, traditionally called MCV, reads your application before they send out secondaries. They tend to cut the applicant pool in half between primaries and secondaries. Last year they had around 5000 applicants. Of those secondaries that they send out, usually there are 650 interviews. Last year they tried something new and had 900 interviews but I beleive they decided to go back to the 650 this year. They tend to give out about 300+ acceptances but they never over book the class. That means at any one time there are no more than 184 people holding acceptances. They slowly build up to the 184 mark as the year goes on. So in october they give out around 25 acceptances. Another 50 or so in december and so on until they have given out 184.
There are 104 instate and 80 OOS.

For my class, the average MCAT is 29 and average GPA is around 3.5, however don't think you are a shoo in if you have a high MCAT. There are plenty of kids in my class with mid-to-high 30s on the MCAT and plenty more last year got rejected.
Click to expand...

i think i believe the guy that goes to the school. thanks for the input!👍
 
Instatewaiter said:
VCU, traditionally called MCV, reads your application before they send out secondaries. They tend to cut the applicant pool in half between primaries and secondaries. Last year they had around 5000 applicants. Of those secondaries that they send out, usually there are 650 interviews. Last year they tried something new and had 900 interviews but I beleive they decided to go back to the 650 this year. They tend to give out about 300+ acceptances but they never over book the class. That means at any one time there are no more than 184 people holding acceptances. They slowly build up to the 184 mark as the year goes on. So in october they give out around 25 acceptances. Another 50 or so in december and so on until they have given out 184.
There are 104 instate and 80 OOS.

For my class, the average MCAT is 29 and average GPA is around 3.5, however don't think you are a shoo in if you have a high MCAT. There are plenty of kids in my class with mid-to-high 30s on the MCAT and plenty more last year got rejected.
Click to expand...

yea, thanks for the info
 
Hey, I know how you feel. I Just got rejected pre-secondary from kansas, which has lower stats than VCU, but i did just recieve a VCU secondary. The element of random luck involved with this process is frustrating!
 
Disinence2 said:
Hey, I know how you feel. I Just got rejected pre-secondary from kansas, which has lower stats than VCU, but i did just recieve a VCU secondary. The element of random luck involved with this process is frustrating!
Click to expand...

I called VCU today and the lady on the phone was like "your application is in a pool for pre-secondary review and is being looked by a special subcommittee." She recommended e-mailing the associate dean for clarification, I was just wondering if I should give it a couple more days or just go ahead email the lady?
 
IDontKnow said:
I called VCU today and the lady on the phone was like "your application is in a pool for pre-secondary review and is being looked by a special subcommittee." She recommended e-mailing the associate dean for clarification, I was just wondering if I should give it a couple more days or just go ahead email the lady?
Click to expand...

Do it soon! They might be getting to your application within the next few days...maybe an email on your part would demonstrate interest and sway the committee in your favor in case you were on the borderline
 
IDontKnow said:
I called VCU today and the lady on the phone was like "your application is in a pool for pre-secondary review and is being looked by a special subcommittee." She recommended e-mailing the associate dean for clarification, I was just wondering if I should give it a couple more days or just go ahead email the lady?
Click to expand...

I don't get it, what do you want to be clarified? 😕
 
nhoss said:
Do it soon! They might be getting to your application within the next few days...maybe an email on your part would demonstrate interest and sway the committee in your favor in case you were on the borderline
Click to expand...

Aight thanks....
 
Hello--I just checked my email and I got a secondary invite from VCU. I was pretty nervous b/c i was reading the posts above, but it's possible! I've been waiting anxiously esp. b/c i am an august mcater (first time) and I thought i was too late in the process to get one. I really didn't think that I was going to get one..b/c my gpa is not really that great compared to what usual applicants get...so it really does just show u that it's not just numbers i guess..good luck all.
 
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