Damn...sorry to hear that. You should ask them why they rejected you and see what you could have done better. Are your other prospective med schools looking hopeful?
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Western University - Pomona (COMP) Discussion Thread 2015 - 2016
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I interviewed and was wait-listed at ACOM. That was my only other interview besides TouroNY that is coming up this Monday. Just wish I knew what I could have done better. They say that once you get the interview your stats go out the window but I have a hard time believing that now. I don't think it could have gone any better personally, but hopefully I have better luck in NY or it's going to be a long summer.
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After glancing at your posting history, your stats are 3.05cGPA, 3.45sGPA, and a 506 MCAT. Your ECs include ~350 hours of shadowing a nephrologist, 4+ years of tutoring, and a behavioral therapist for autistic children.
I'm really, really crossing my fingers for your Touro NY interview. If it unfortunately doesn't work out, here are a few things you can do when you reapply:
1) Your science GPA and MCAT are perfectly average, but your cGPA is much too low. Take the year to repeat some courses and bring that GPA to at least a 3.3.
2) If your ECs consist of only the three listed above, your ECs are lacking. You need strong volunteer experience, preferably with a disadvantaged population, and you need hobbies. Find things you enjoy and do them well. Do you have any leadership positions? If not, get some.
3) Is the nephrologist you shadowed a D.O.? If not, shadow a D.O. and get an LOR from the D.O. Also, keep in mind, 350 hours is a LOT of shadowing. You don't need that many hours when you shadow again.
4) Judging by your posts, you submitted your app in October. Apply early (July at the latest) and very broadly.
Hope this helps!
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Thanks for the words of encouragement. I don't know if I mistakenly said 300+... it's only around 200 but retaking classes wouldn't boost my GPA because I've accumulated far too many classes over the years. In my most recent 60-90 units I received a 3.8 cGPA. So schools that weigh heavily upward trends can at least see that. I won't get too down about it. I know for sure it's because I applied too late this cycle. Thanks for the advice.
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I also live near the campus (about 2 miles lol). I don't think it's because you applied late. I submitted my secondary in October. Was on a pre interview hold in December, interviewed late Jan and accepted early February. I would contact your assigned admissions counselor to figure out how you can improve. Side note: I was a behavior interventionist for years as well =)
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Hello, so I posted here before about the fact that i am on the pre interview hold since October (IS, 3.7c,3.4s, 29MCAT w/ 24retake). Western is definitely my number 1 choice, and i would immediately commit if I were accepted here. I sent in a letter of interest, as well as an update letter to my admissions counselor.
An admissions counselor told me today that their last interview is currently on 3/31, but that they are thinking about opening up another interview date in April.
Do you think that it would be useful for me to go to the preview day this weekend to show further commitment to the university? For anyone that has been to this event, do you get an opportunity to talk to the admissions committee member? I have a trip planned for this weekend, but if attending this event will increase my chances of getting an ii, I am willing to just cancel my trip.
An admissions counselor told me today that their last interview is currently on 3/31, but that they are thinking about opening up another interview date in April.
Do you think that it would be useful for me to go to the preview day this weekend to show further commitment to the university? For anyone that has been to this event, do you get an opportunity to talk to the admissions committee member? I have a trip planned for this weekend, but if attending this event will increase my chances of getting an ii, I am willing to just cancel my trip.
Dude I see you on a lot of threads and I must ask why the hell you always delete your responses? I seriously always just see a "." there. I mean I know sometimes people change their minds but it bugs when people do it all the time.
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So... just an anecdote:
I shadowed 3 of their OMM faculty during the 3rd year rotations. I attended the first Pre-Health2Med conference thing which is a upgraded Preview Day where you basically sit in on the DO, Optometry, PA, and Dentistry presentations/demonstrations on OMT, using the eyeball looking thing to perform an eye exam, check vitals, and do a ceramic filling on a fake tooth. I live in LA and got a DO letter. I'm an exercise science/kinesiology major and veteran. I am severely lacking in traditional ECs (never volunteered in a hospital or non-clinically for too long of a time) and my stats are meh.... 3.6 cGPA, 3.8 sGPA ("hard courses") and 506 with low BIO score. I really think that being able to say that WesternU showed me what being a DO is about boosted me noticeably. I was able to clearly articulate a LOT about WesternU, good and bad things. I told them that I'd handle multiple acceptances by considering location, board scores, rotations, and match data. I also only applied DO even though I'm told I could get some MD stuff if I applied broadly but... yeah... combination of naturally liking DO philosophy and being too poor to go travel to more than 3 interviews made it very easy to be happy with "only getting DO". I get to upgrade my bloodline from historically dropping out of high school to getting into the top 10% of income earners worldwide. I was also invited to interview and accepted pretty early in the cycle (early October). Maybe having multiple WesternU references for shadowing and a little in the PS about seeing OMT there helped get me to the top of the pile.
TL;DR - If it costs less than $200, you might as well go, unless you're holding onto other acceptances and have paid deposits.
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Accepted/deposit down @ TUCOM-CA since October, but still waiting on Western... my fiance really wants to stay in the LA area... my application has been "on hold" forever and just a few days ago I got that same email some of you mentioned previously about it being reviewed again. I sent in a casual update several months ago but nothing concrete. My stats are, MCAT 32, nonscience 3.46, science 3.47... Lots of EC (volunteering in serious ER program etc), but only a very brief DO shadow. I went to a campus tour last year and made note of that in my app and in my secondary I explicitly said that they were my top choice school.
Anyone have any ideas on what my chances are at this point? I know we're all just spitballing and I am very happy with Touro but having this outstanding application is so anxiety provoking!
Anyone have any ideas on what my chances are at this point? I know we're all just spitballing and I am very happy with Touro but having this outstanding application is so anxiety provoking!
On the bit about shadowing. Upon submitting my secondary application I had 24 hours of DO shadowing 4 of which were with a DO at the patient care center on campus. I also told them they were my top choice. Your numbers are definitely not the issue especially considering your acceptance at TUCOM-CA.
I heard about 15 days after so I am guessing by tomorrow or next Monday latest
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I got an interview from Western after being put on hold. Western is has always been my #1 choice, so I cannot even express how excited I am. For those of you that already interviewed at Western, would you mind giving me some tips for a successful interview? How should I prepare for the writing section, as well as the MMI? I am so grateful that I was given this opportunity!!
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Interview: If you slow down and wait a short moment before speaking, you will decrease the chance of mis-speaking and will probably have a more thoughtful response. Consciously try to slow down and relax.
Writing: Read very carefully and follow directions exactly, including limitations and stay on topic.
MMI: Imagine you are a hiring manager and you have set up a scenario with a paid actor for your interviewees to go through so you can "see them in action". Now design a form for the actor to fill out when they finish the scenario that evaluates the interviewee. What would that form look like? What would it assess? How would it score the interviewee? General tip: Remember the NAME of the person in the scenario. Basic customer service/empathy skills should be common sense, but hey... I guess a lot of people need to work on that. Maybe videotape yourself doing common "hospital scenes" with a partner or something. There are actually probably more non-hospital scenarios because THEY DO NOT EXPECT YOU TO "KNOW" THINGS.
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I was in the 2/25 interview group too and haven't heard anything yet either. Maybe they are just taking a little longer this time around. Hopefully we'll hear soon 
not true. they call.
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I would get one around 6:00-6:15ish. It ends around 3 and there's tons of traffic on the 605 and 105. It takes me an hour to get to LAX from Pomona with minimal traffic. Plus you'll also need to check-in and go through security. I think 5:10 is cutting it short. Better to chill at the airport for an hour than to miss your flight.
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Thoughts on this year's match list?
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It is very impressive!
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That EM match at LA County-USC tho. Last year was just one from KCUMB (if I'm not mistaken). Wondering how many D.O.s matched there this year.
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I'm interested in doing EM residency in CA as well. How competitive is it to get into LA County-USC? How difficult is it to match EM in CA?
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LA County-USC i believe is one of the top programs in the country per doximity). I could imagine EM in California is doable, especially post mergerp
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Still on pre II hold. I had high hopes for this school but seeing as this is the last week for interviews I'm not sure if it's looking too good.
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Hey all! I have an interview on the 31, and I just have a general question about Western. Is attendance mandatory and are all lectures recorded to watch or listen later? Thanks a lot! Looking forward to meeting everyone!
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All lectures are recorded. Certain lectures are mandatory like clinical medicine, OMM and anatomy Lab. However, most of the science lectures are not mandatory and can be watched at home in your PJs. Best of luck on the interview.
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If you look 8 posts above yours, you will find your answer.
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Thanks a lot!!
Do those types of lectures, the ones that require attendance, have a specific time that they take place? I would like to commute to potentially commute to this school but I want to avoid driving during the evening or late afternoon...
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anatomy lab varies between morning and afternoon if I remember correctly but the others are in the afternoon and usually go till 4 or 5.
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You can access BanWeb through the YouPortal.
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Emailed admissions. Last interview is on Thursday. They will be emailing rejections in the next few weeks.
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I see the match list, but I was wondering about a percentage for the number of students that matched. The most recent one I could find was from 2013, doesn't seem like that would be too acccurate now. Thanks anyway
I spoke to some students who graduated from Western last year and they said their class had a 100% match rate.
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does anyone know how full their class is at this point? I will be interviewing on Thursday, but I wanted to know if I am going to be interviewing for a spot on their waitlist...
Im currently on their alternate list (or waitlist). But I know they don't really have that many people on their waitlist (typically around 60) so I doubt that you are interviewing to get on their waitlist...because there will be somewhere along the lines of 60 people interviewing with you on Thursday and I don't think they would all be waitlisted or rejected......
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In what field and where is more important. There are numerous reasons why someone didn't match, which can be misleading.
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So, based on my interview last October, 1 person did not match last year between the Lebanon and Pomona campuses. It was 99% and change.
Last interview date is this Thursday?
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I talked directly with admissions a couple of weeks ago, and they said that tomorrow (3/31) is going to be their last interview date for this cycle.
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Does anyone know when tuition is due for the fall semester?
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I was at the interview today and they said it would take about 3-4weeks to hear our decisions. For those who already interviewed, did they actually take the entire 3 weeks?
They also said they only send out decisions over snail mail, but I thought many people on sdn were notified over phone?
They also said they only send out decisions over snail mail, but I thought many people on sdn were notified over phone?
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Yeah I was also at today's interview and reading these forums I heard they call as well. Hopefully they can get it out to us as soon as possible. But for now it is just the waiting game.. Good luck!!
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