William Carey University (WCU-COM) Discussion Thread 2013 - 2014

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We have plenty of nurses, EMT's and other health professionals in our first 3 classes.

This is very encouraging! I'm non-trad in my early 30's, married with 3 kids. I've been a paramedic for 12 yrs and RN for 5 yrs, but i really want to be a physician!

i am finishing up my undergrad degree and med school requirements at WCU (Hattiesburg campus). Current GPA 3.5 (A's in all recent coursework) I'm hoping to apply for 2015.

I am very very interested in this school, but I have heard mixed reviews from several of the doctors at work. So I'm not sure what to think.... Does anyone here have any info about how the first few classes of students are doing?

Thanks
 
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This is very encouraging! I'm non-trad in my early 30's, married with 3 kids. I've been a paramedic for 12 yrs and RN for 5 yrs, but i really want to be a physician!

i am finishing up my undergrad degree and med school requirements at WCU (Hattiesburg campus). Current GPA 3.5 (A's in all recent coursework) I'm hoping to apply for 2015.

I am very very interested in this school, but I have heard mixed reviews from several of the doctors at work. So I'm not sure what to think.... Does anyone here have any info about how the first few classes of students are doing?

Thanks





Having lived in Hattiesburg for the last two years, I have mixed reviews on the doctors here.That does not make me an expert on them any more than these doctors are an expert on WCUCOM. A caveat would be unless these physicians are current or former preceptors.

Why don't you walk across campus and get your questions answered at the source. The med students will be happy to give you the good, the bad, and the ugly.
 
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Having lived in Hattiesburg for the last two years, I have mixed reviews on the doctors here.That does not make me an expert on them any more than these doctors are an expert on WCUCOM. A caveat would be unless these physicians are current or former preceptors.

Why don't you walk across campus and get your questions answered at the source. The med students will be happy to give you the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Is there an open house or do we schedule a tour? I emailed the office nearly a year ago, but it was never returned :/
 
Is there an open house or do we schedule a tour? I emailed the office nearly a year ago, but it was never returned :/






Contact Emily Bennett in the Admissions office and she will be able to give you the details. Just wait until after Wednesday, as orientations are going on till then.
 
A caveat would be unless these physicians are current or former preceptors.

MakesSense- I get what your saying... Many of the physicians I work with are preceptors which is why it makes me a tad nervous. But, I'm really hoping that it is just because it is the school's very first class. I have met several students in the ER, and I ask questions if we are having a slow night.

I would love to talk to more students from different years! I really would love to go here. I just want to make sure that I would get my money's worth (if I can get excepted that is).
 
Could anyone on here please post the questions for the secondary essays so I can get started on them.

Thank you!
 
Could anyone on here please post the questions for the secondary essays so I can get started on them.

Thank you!

They ask you to explain how your ambitions and career plans will help WCU-COM to fulfill its mission.

They don't specify a word count but the space is about 3/4 of a page.
 
I'm a first year applicant -- I've heard WCCOM only sends secondaries to those they're seriously considering. Could someone look for that before transcripts are verified or is there definitely nothing until after that?
 
Hello everyone,

I was wondering whether William Carey is receptive to Canadian applicants. In the College Information Book, WCU-COM states that they take International Student Applicants. However, I'm aware that a number of other schools (PCOM comes to mind) state that they take international students but, for all intents and purposes, do NOT take Canadians. Is there any information about whether Canadians have matriculated here (or at least interviewed here) before?

Thanks!
 
They are still working on secondaries. I got a call about a letter and they said they will hopefully be ready for interview invites soon.
 
Just got a secondary today which caught me by surprise considering I'm in NC, but I'll take it. Good luck all!
 
Hey guys... I heard through the grape vine that the admissions office will be sending out interview invites pretty soon. Good luck to everyone applying this cycle!

If you haven't already, go check out the website. The curriculum has been updated and my class is testing it out. It's too early to tell if its better, but I'm certainly excited about it.

Will see you guys at your interview!
 
How does one confirm whether they have officially been screened out pre-secondary? 😳
 
How does one confirm whether they have officially been screened out pre-secondary? 😳

There is no way to really check. Last cycle WCUCOM got over 2000 apps, so there simply isn't enough time/staff to do this. They look at apps as they are complete and make an initial screen. You may get a secondary at this point or be put off until the pool gets a little larger. They periodically re-review applications, so don't freak if a secondary doesn't show right away. That said, you can always try calling the admissions office to check on the status of your app and express your interest. I'd only do this once though. It's a fine line between eager and annoying!

Good luck!
 
There is no way to really check. Last cycle WCUCOM got over 2000 apps, so there simply isn't enough time/staff to do this. They look at apps as they are complete and make an initial screen. You may get a secondary at this point or be put off until the pool gets a little larger. They periodically re-review applications, so don't freak if a secondary doesn't show right away. That said, you can always try calling the admissions office to check on the status of your app and express your interest. I'd only do this once though. It's a fine line between eager and annoying!

Good luck!

Thanks for the detailed response! 🙂 I'll just have to be patient and hope for the best. 😀
 
I received a very thin, and ominous envelope from WCU today, but it was just a receipt for my secondary payment, lol!! Whew!
 
Just got a secondary today! Hopefully ill be able to complete and submit it this week- anyone who's already complete heard anything. Regarding interviews?
 
still no secondary :scared:. AACOMAS verified 7/18, 3.5ish c and sGPA, 26O, good ECs (semester of research, year as ER scribe, lots of shadowing, director of non-prof org), OOS, non-URM

this is the only one of my 16 schools that hasnt sent me a secondary yet, not sure if i should be nervous or not. I do like that if they send you a secondary that means they are very seriously considering you for an interview though

keeping my :xf:
 
still no secondary :scared:. AACOMAS verified 7/18, 3.5ish c and sGPA, 26O, good ECs (semester of research, year as ER scribe, lots of shadowing, director of non-prof org), OOS, non-URM

this is the only one of my 16 schools that hasnt sent me a secondary yet, not sure if i should be nervous or not. I do like that if they send you a secondary that means they are very seriously considering you for an interview though

keeping my :xf:

I am in the same situation, no secondary invite..... this is the only school didn't give me secondary invite.
 
I have no idea but I really want to hear from them! The silence is starting to get to me! :scared:

on the bright side, SDN is so large and neurotic that if they were handing out any real number of invites by now, it would have shown up
 
I just called to ensure that I was complete because I have had some problems elsewhere. I don't remember who I spoke with, but she said that they will probably start reviewing the applications in mid Sept for interviews.
 
I have 3.7sgpa/ 3.56 cgpa/23 mcat. Over 100 hrs clinical volunteering/ some non clinical. Chances look okay for an ii?
Louisiana resident
 
still no secondary :scared:. AACOMAS verified 7/18, 3.5ish c and sGPA, 26O, good ECs (semester of research, year as ER scribe, lots of shadowing, director of non-prof org), OOS, non-URM

this is the only one of my 16 schools that hasnt sent me a secondary yet, not sure if i should be nervous or not. I do like that if they send you a secondary that means they are very seriously considering you for an interview though

keeping my :xf:

any idea on when one can expect to receive a secondary if it's going to come? i was just verified last thursday (9/5) apparently -- that took a while! i'm trying to figure out if i should be panicking (i.e. if they send them out even before you are officially verified) or not yet.
 
How strict are they on the science faculty letters? I am currently filling out the secondary and have a premed committee letter and multiple physician letters. However, I graduated more than a year ago so I don't think I would be able to get extra science letters. Does anyone else have this same problem?
 
How strict are they on the science faculty letters? I am currently filling out the secondary and have a premed committee letter and multiple physician letters. However, I graduated more than a year ago so I don't think I would be able to get extra science letters. Does anyone else have this same problem?

I had the same issue so I emailed admissions about it. They responded that they'd spoken with a member of the faculty and that my committee letter would work in lieu of a third one. Then, a couple of weeks later, I received an email saying they still needed the third letter (as if they'd forgotten the first email exchange). So I don't really know. Never received a status change and that was probably 7 weeks ago.
 
So did you just give up on this school? I just sent them an email. I guess I'll wait to see what they say.

I had the same issue so I emailed admissions about it. They responded that they'd spoken with a member of the faculty and that my committee letter would work in lieu of a third one. Then, a couple of weeks later, I received an email saying they still needed the third letter (as if they'd forgotten the first email exchange). So I don't really know. Never received a status change and that was probably 7 weeks ago.
 
So did you just give up on this school? I just sent them an email. I guess I'll wait to see what they say.

I wouldn't really say give up, although I haven't followed up in those 7 weeks. With >30 secondaries, full time hospital work, volunteering, and biochem lecture, I would say they got pushed to the back. In the beginning I was really into the school (location, mission, etc), but with so much else going on it cooled off. Good luck to you, and please let me know if you hear from them.
 
Still havent even received a secondary from them and I was released 8/23... 🙁
 
Do they send a confirmation email for the interview. I replied back to the email saying I will attend the interview last Friday but have not received a confirmation. Maybe I should call?
 
for those who received interviews... did everyone have a letter from a DO physician? i've yet to shadow and was just wondering if it was a deal breaker to get an interview. i'm still trying to but i haven't yet.
 
for those who received interviews... did everyone have a letter from a DO physician? i've yet to shadow and was just wondering if it was a deal breaker to get an interview. i'm still trying to but i haven't yet.

It's not a deal breaker. I didn't have a letter from a DO when I applied. I did, however, shadow a DO prior to applying.

If your metrics are decent, all you have to do to get an interview is fit their mission. WCUCOM takes their mission very seriously. They also only invite those who they want to accept, so if you get that invite, the game is yours to lose.
 
Canceling my Interview here. Hope it goes to someone in the sdn family.
 
maybemed, you headed to ACOM? What did you like about ACOM, heading there for an interview in a month
 
I have planned to apply broadly, but I must say that WCUCOM is pretty much my top choice; not only do I honestly just enjoy the school, I have lived in the area my whole life and recently bought a house about two blocks away from campus. I have been waiting on MCAT scores to submit my application this cycle...just found out that I got a 26: VR12/PS6/BS8. I'm more than a little concerned about that PS score, but I'm hoping that my favorable senior standing as an undergraduate here along with some good LORs from members of the science staff will at least earn me a chance. Any current WCUCOM students care to offer their input?
 
I have planned to apply broadly, but I must say that WCUCOM is pretty much my top choice; not only do I honestly just enjoy the school, I have lived in the area my whole life and recently bought a house about two blocks away from campus. I have been waiting on MCAT scores to submit my application this cycle...just found out that I got a 26: VR12/PS6/BS8. I'm more than a little concerned about that PS score, but I'm hoping that my favorable senior standing as an undergraduate here along with some good LORs from members of the science staff will at least earn me a chance. Any current WCUCOM students care to offer their input?

I too am applying this cycle, I received a secondary with a 24 (VR10/PS8/BS6), so depending on your GPA you have a pretty good shot. Last intel I saw was the average MCAT was a 25. You're local, so that will help too. Best of luck!
 
I am interviewing there on Nov. 1st. I am flying in to Laurel at 4pm on Oct 31, renting a car there, and then driving the short skip to Hattiesburg. If anyone needs a free ride from the Laurel airport to Hattiesburg, just PM me.
 
I too am applying this cycle, I received a secondary with a 24 (VR10/PS8/BS6), so depending on your GPA you have a pretty good shot. Last intel I saw was the average MCAT was a 25. You're local, so that will help too. Best of luck!

I got a 24 as well (VR6/PS8/BS10) but still haven't gotten a secondary. But my primary wasn't released to them until 8/23. Hopefully I get some loving soon...for those with ii...congrats Im jealous! And make sure you tell the adcoms how much of a wonderful human being I am and all I want is to be adopted by a loving and caring medical curriculum. Thanks.
 
Thanks, CajunMedic. Best of luck to you, as well...keep us updated!
 
I am interviewing there on Nov. 1st. I am flying in to Laurel at 4pm on Oct 31, renting a car there, and then driving the short skip to Hattiesburg. If anyone needs a free ride from the Laurel airport to Hattiesburg, just PM me.

After turning in your secondary how long did it take to get an ii? Just turned mine in this week and trying to gauge response time!
 
am i supposed to handwrite this secondary and overnight it? Or was there a mstake in the email and it's really an online secondary?
 
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