Do you want to apply to the California University of Science and Medicine (California College)? Even if the school is prestigious your chances of joining this medical school depends on your performance on this screening process. If you have any anxiety or concern about what the screening actually means, then you don’t need to worry at all. Here at legal tweens we demystify it all to give you all that you need to know to sail through the whole process.
CUSM is one of the newest medical schools in California but has been developing a good reputation among Californians for offering quality education with stating the mission focused on the treatment of those in need. The screening is a first step toward joining that mission and now let me tell you what to expect.
Why is The Screening Important?
Note, that the screening stage is perhaps one of the most important in the application process and before we go straight to explaining what happens during the screening, the following question will appear to be rather important to answer. The screening ultimately serves to allow CUSM to determine if the candidate is culturally suitable for CUSM and meets the university’s academic requirements and expectations. They want to know that you’re smart, proficient with words, and a good writer, they also want to know you have a desire to change the world through the industry of medicine.
Overview of CUSM’s Screening Process
CUSM’s screening process is intended to assess an applicant in many different respects. As a result, it is not only the final grades that count, but also personal traits, achievements in other spheres, and volunteering may be crucial as well. Now let’s analyze the individual parts of the screenings as well as the different components within each type of screening.
Primary Application Review
First, clinical school will review your initial application that you fill out online in the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). This includes your grade point average, medical college admission test scores, application essay also known as the personal statement and the letters of recommendation. At this stage, the admissions committee will decide whether you are ready for the academic load and whether you have a genuine desire to become a doctor.
- GPA and MCAT Scores As much as CUSM had no fixed cut-off in the academic performances of the students, they preferred a candidate with decent though cut-off scores. Applicants with good and high scores on GPA and MCAT have more chances, but this does not mean that applicants with low statistics should disassemble themselves. All part of the documents you have submitted will also be considered by the admissions committee.
- Your personal statement is part of the review process that happens at the primary application stage. This is where you should be able to explain who you are why that person wants to become a doctor and why that person wants to do it for the rest of his/her life. It is also quite advantageous to write your personal statement perfectly.
- Letters of Recommendation Letters of recommendation are a valid source of gaining the insight of the admission committee concerning your personality, work ethic and a possible future physician. Select recommenders that are familiar with you and can write about your abilities concerning academic and personal life.
Secondary Application
After a successful initial review of your primary application, you will thereafter be provided a secondary application. This is where CUSM will provide more specific questions regarding to your values, experiences and goals.
- Essay Prompts The number of essay prompts in the secondary application will always be between two and five with the primary aim of evaluating your fitment to CUSM. For example, you may be asked to write about your experience that you acquires with servers population or how you have illustrated leadership in your community. It is necessary to invest time in typing the respective replies in order to emphasize what can make the applicant stand out of the mass.
- Time Frame You will most of the times have few weeks to complete the secondary application and therefore need to use every single time available. Essential information for students: submitting secondary earlier helps get through the next stage of the screening the sooner.
Interview Invitations
Although a secondary application seems secondary in nature, the results are critical because after completing it, the admissions committee considers your comprehensive application package. When they think you can work for CUSM, you will be invited for an interview as we progress in the next step. Here comes one of the most exhilarating and often stressing moments of the screening process!
- Virtual Interviews Like with many medical schools, all the interviews at CUSM were conducted virtually. This makes it possible for applicants from any part of the country to be able to participate without having to worry of the costs of travelling. The interviews are normally conducted either through the Zoom or similar platform and you will be advised on how to prepare.
- Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) More information is available at www.cusm.ac.uk/study-with-us/exam-multiple-mini-interviews-.utf8.html. Instead of being interviewed for a long time vanity, you will go through a series of short interviews where each section will be devoted to some particular situation or question. These are the interviews where you will be asked about your communication skills, ethical values, and your capacity to reason at the spur of the moment.
- Preparing for the Interview advice An MMI can seem quite daunting but it doesn’t have to be. Get used to answering frequently asked medical school interview questions and some role play exercises with a buddy or a adult. Dont forget that you’re not being tested on the content of your answers but on how you think and make decisions as well as how you collaborate with your peers.
What Happens After the Interview?
After the interview is over; you look forward to the next step that follows or even the next procedure that you need to undertake. Finally, the candidates sit for an interview and after that, the committee decides on the whole student based on the results of the interview and other components of the application. They shall take into account performance in MMI alongside your academic and personal performances.
- Holistic Review CUSM can rightly boast that it apply the principle of holistic approach to the students’ admittance. And as such, it implies that if you are not strong in one particular aspects or feature of the application i.e. you scored poorly on your MCAT exam you can be a competitive applicant if for instance you demonstrate strength in areas such as community service or leadership.
- Decision Timeline Admissions decisions are usually made with the following few weeks after the interview. Good luck and if you are accepted congratulations to you. Congratulations, you are now on the final stage of entry into CUSM to be a medical student. Even if you are on the waitlist, do not despair as many candidates are moved off the list during the cycle.
Tips for a Successful CUSM Screening
Having got a general understanding of screening process let’s discuss several useful recommendations.
Be Authentic
Some of the major pointers to remember while going through the screening process include being an authentic self. CUSM wants applicants who share its mission and vision, so never be a pretender as it’s a waste of time and resources. Show that you have love for medicine and the passion to serve through your essays and interviews.
Highlight Your Commitment to Service
CUSM highly values its commitment to and focus on the provision of health care for the underprivileged so please do accentuate any previous experiences in this line. Whether you volunteered at a free clinic or worked with nonprofit organization narrate your experience and how the experience has led you towards becoming a physician.
Prepare for the MMI
MMI format challenges even the most confident can be because of this format, however, preparation is essential. Engage in ethical samples, medical quiz, and questions regarding cooperation. You’ll be more comfortable during the actual interview since you’ve had time to rehearse with the questions.
Don’t Rush Through the Application
The secondary is your opportunity to demonstrate to the professional school who you are besides your GPA and MCAT. It will be appropriate to devote a fair amount of time to give well-written and well-thought answers to the essay questions. This is your time, the moment to get your foot in the door and you mustn’t waste it rushing.
Conclusion
The screening criteria used in California University of Science and Medicine College is an elaborate process that evaluates the candidate in all Facets. Examining personal achievements and futures as well as personal traits and dedication to serving others CUSM seeks to determine the passion of future physicians. But now, they want to be a doctor because they consider themselves cut out for it and the preparation to undertake screening is what is needed to get to the next level.
FAQs
Q1: The median GPA and MCAT for the applicants at CUSM are?
A: However, CUSM does not have firm cut off points, students with average GPA of 3.5-3.7 and/or average of MCAT score of 505-510 gave been considered.
Q2: How time consuming is this screening process?
A: The time process can range from several weeks, based on how fast you submit the secondary application, and how fast you receive the interview invitation.
Q3: What is that dress code that I should follow for an online interview?
A: Thus, job interviews should be dressed professionally even when conducted remotely. Interviewing from home does not mean that you should dress in pajamas as it will demonstrate that you are serious about the process.
Q4: Can I apply to CUSM if I don’t have much clinical experience?
A: Yes! Although, clinical experience is preferred, CUSM also accepts other types of service and leadership experience.
Q5: What are the things that I can do to make sure that my application is accepted?
A: Stay true to yourself, focus on your tutorship experience, and memorize the MMI questions. Applicants are advised to complete a well rounded application and demonstrate their passion for the career in medicine.