Main Page | Recent changes | Edit this page | Page history Printable version | Disclaimers | Privacy policy

Not logged in Log in | Help

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

From Student Doctor Network Wiki

Contents 1 Overview 2 General Information 3 US News & World Report Rankings 4 Student Body Profile 5 Admissions 5.1 Contact Information 5.1.1 MD Program 5.1.2 MD/JD Program 5.2 Process 5.2.1 Application Overview 5.2.1.1 Criteria 5.2.1.2 Screening 5.2.1.3 Required Recommendation Letters 5.2.1.4 Additional Courses 5.2.1.5 Additional Information 5.2.2 Primary Application 5.2.3 Secondary Application 5.2.3.1 MD Program 5.2.3.2 MD/JD Program 5.2.4 Interview Overview 5.2.4.1 Notification 5.2.4.2 Pre-Interview On Hold 5.2.4.3 MD Interviews 5.2.4.3.1 Accommodations 5.2.4.4 MD/JD Interviews 5.2.5 Travel Information 5.2.5.1 Airport Information 5.2.5.2 Driving Directions to School 5.2.5.3 Bus 5.2.5.4 Subway/Train 5.2.5.5 Recommended Hotels 5.2.6 Admissions Overview 5.2.6.1 Waitlists (called AWPA) 5.2.6.2 Acceptance/Matriculation 5.3 The Down-Low 5.3.1 Pre-Interview 5.3.2 Interview Day 5.3.3 Post-Interview 6 About the School 6.1 Medical Curricula 6.1.1 Program A (MD) 6.1.1.1 Teaching Styles 6.1.1.2 Anatomy 6.1.1.3 USMLE Preparation/Results 6.1.2 Program B (MD/JD) 6.1.2.1 Medical Years 6.1.3 Program C (MD/?) 6.1.3.1 ? Year(s) 6.2 Finances 6.2.1 MD Finances 6.2.1.1 Cost of Attendance 6.2.2 MD/JD Finances 6.2.3 Financial Aid 6.3 Match List 6.4 Affiliated Hospitals 6.5 As A Student 6.5.1 Student Housing 6.5.2 Student Activities 6.5.3 Libraries 6.5.4 Good Study Areas 6.5.5 Best Places to Buy Stuff 7 Useful Links

Overview

Southern Illinois University was chartered in 1869 and opened its doors to students in 1874. The Carbondale campus has 21,000 students. It is located in the middle of the Shawnee National Forest and provides opportunities for many types of outdoor recreation. The Medical School opened in 1970.

• General Informatin from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Illinois_University

Note: Copywritten information is not to be posted to this site!

General Information

• Full Name: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
• Established: 1970
  • Public
  • Religious Affiliation: None
• Location: Carbondale, IL campus for year 1.

      Link to map and Directions: http://admissions.siu.edu/directions.htm

• Springfield, IL campus for years 2-4.

      Link to map and Directions: http://www.siumed.edu/news/MapDirections.htm

• School Colors: Maroon/White
• School Mascot: Saluki (dog)
• School Mission of SIU School of Medicine is to assist the people of central and southern Illinois in meeting their health care needs through education, patient care, and research.
• Known for: 1) producing primary-care clinicians, 2) most affordable med school in Illinois.
• Connected to Undergraduate Campus: Yes

US News & World Report Rankings

US News & World Report Rankings Website

• For 2007:
  • Research: no rank posted on public site
  • Primary Care: no rank posted on public site

• For 20##(-1)
  • Research: XX (+/- X)
  • Primary Care: XX (+/- X)

• For 20##(-2)
  • Research: XX (+/- X)
  • Primary Care: XX (+/- X)

Student Body Profile

For 2006

• Total Enrollment: 289
• Class size: 72
  • In-state:
  • Out-of-state:
    • Preference to In-state Applicants: Yes
• Average MCAT of Entering Class: 27 (9,9,9)
• Average GPA of Entering Class: 3.53
• Male: 46.7%
• Female: 53.3%
• Average entering age: 23y/o
• Minorities: 22.8%
• Under-represented minorities 14.2%

Admissions

• Programs Offered
  • MD
  • MD/JD

Contact Information

MD Program

• Chair of Admissions Committee: Ross Silverman, JD, MPH
• Director of Admissions: Evan Wilson
  • Address
    • Office of Admissions
    • SIU School of Medicine
    • 801 N Rutledge Street, Springfield, IL Map
  • Website: http://www.siumed.edu
  • Email: admissions@siumed.edu
  • Phone: 217-545-6013
  • Fax: 217-545-5538

MD/JD Program

• Same as above for MD portion of the program. Must apply separately for admission to the law school.

Process

Application Overview

• Number of Applicants in 2006(-1): 1034
  • Number of MD/JD Applicants in 2006(-1): 63
    • Total Acceptances Offered in 2006: 158 Enrolled: 72
• Number of Applicants in 2007(-2): XX,XXX (+/- XXX)
  • Number of MD/JD Applicants in 2007(-2): XXX
• Number of Applicants in 2008(-3): XX,XXX (+/- XXX)
  • Number of MD/JD Applicants in 2008(-3): XXX

• Early-Decision: Yes/No
• Baccalaureate/MD Accelerated Program (BS/MD): No

Criteria

• Applying for Entry in 2006
  • MUST Be In-state: Yes, unless applying for MD/JD
  • Oldest MCAT Considered: 2 years old
  • Accepts AP Credits for Core Classes: Yes
  • Accepts Community College Credit: Yes

Screening

• Screens Applications Before Sending Secondary: Yes
  • Screening Criteria:

   1) Academic strengths
   2) Involvement in extracurricular activities
   3) Employment and volunteer experiences
   4) Area of residence, with preference given to central and 
      southern Illinois residents and those from rural, inner-city, or
      disadvantaged backgrounds

Required Recommendation Letters

• MD Program
  • Four letters of recomendation (three of which should be from academic sources) or a single recommendation from your pre-professional committee. In addition, if you are currently enrolled in an advanced degree-granting program, a letter from your primary graduate program advisor is required.
• MD/JD Program
  • Same as above for MD portion of application
• Accepts Additional Letters (Max Total): Unstated.

Additional Courses

• Recommended (before taking the MCAT)

       Two years of chemistry, including organic
       One year of physics
       One year of English composition
       One year of mathematics, including statistics
       One year of biological or life sciences 
       One semester of biochemistry, cell/molecularbiology,physiology,
            genetics

• Required

       none

Additional Information

* For general requirements, please see Prior To Applying - College

Primary Application

For Entry in 2007

• Service Used: AMCAS
  • Primary Fee: $30 plus usual AMCAS submission fee
• Earliest Submission Date: 06/01/06
• Deadline for Submission: 11/15/06

Secondary Application

• Upon submission of the primary application, the secondary will be sent to you in about 14 days if you pass the initial screening process.

For Entry in 2007

• Secondary Fee: $50
  • Accepts Credit Card Payment Online: No
• Secondary application is not available on-line
• Submission Method: Snail Mail
  • Format: Typed or Hand-written
• Picture Required: No, but they would appreciate one.

MD Program

• Deadline for Submission: 02/01/07. Secondary Essays:
  1. Why should we admit you as a student to Southern Illinois University School of Medicine?
  2. Why do you think you have the qualities necessary to become a good physician?
  3. Please indicate any experiences which you feel may be specifically relevant to: 1) the study of medicine, 2) self-directd learning, 3) the small group tutorial process used in the problem-based learning curriculum.
  4. If you have previously applied to Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, please describe how you feel you have strengthened your credentials since that application.

MD/JD Program

• Deadline for Submission: Same as MD only.
• Essays same as MD only, for MD portion of application.

Interview Overview

• Automatic Interviews: No, but for central/downstate applicants, who received a secondary application, the accompanying letter states they will be interviewed.
• GPA/MCAT Cut-offs: 2.7/4.0 with minimum MCAT verbal=7, minumum bio=6
• Number Interviewed in 2006(-1): 350-400
  • MD/PhD: ?
• Number Interviewed in 2007(-2): XX,XXX (+/- XXX)
  • MD/PhD: XX
• Number Interviewed in 2008(-3): XX,XXX (+/- XXX)
  • MD/PhD: XX

• More Information at the SDN Interview Feedback Site
• Purpose of interview (subjective): All applicants are equal, interview is deciding factor; applicants come in unequal, but can win points; make sure the applicant is alive and can form a sentence; etc.

Notification

• For Entry in 2007** Earliest Interview Notification for Entry in 2007: 08/09/06
  • Latest Interview Notification: ?
    • Notification Method: Snail Mail
    • Earliest Interview Date: 9/05/06
    • Latest Interview Date: early spring semester

Pre-Interview On Hold

Secondary application submitted, notification that application is marked "Hold for Later Review." This is typically for applicants the school may wish to consider again at a later date, however, they may wind up rejecting you in the end.

• Notifies Applicants of On-Hold Status: No
  • Method of Notification: N/A
• Reviews Applications Again: monthly
  • Likelihood of Getting Interview: Good if from central/downstate region, otherwise low. Reportedly, about 15% of the class comes from update area.

MD Interviews

• Overview: Interviews are offered at Springfield
• Interviews Held On: Monday through Friday
  • Interviews are given by 2 faculty members, 50 minutes each. They can be located as much a 1 mile apart.
  • Tour of School: Yes
    • Tour Led by: Student
• Commonly Asked Questions
  • Why SIU?
  • Why medicine?
• Advice
  • Places to Eat: Hospital cafeteria
  • Questions to ask
    • Availability of research mentors?
    • Discuss PBL.

Accommodations

• Student Hosting Available: No

MD/JD Interviews

• Overview

How many days? Describe typical interview program.

• Interviews Held On: Monday/Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays/Fridays
  • Number of Faculty Interviews (Non-Committee Members): X
  • Number of Faculty Interviews (Committee Members): X
  • Number of Student Interviews: X
  • Student Host Optional: Yes/No
• MD/JD Interview Dates for 20##:
• Commonly Asked Questions
  • Question 1
  • Question 2
• Advice
  • Questions to ask:

Travel Information

Airport Information

• Airport Name (XXX)
• Best Method of Transportation from Airport: Rent Car/Bus/Taxi/Subway

Driving Directions to School

• Driving
  • Points North: Directions
  • Points South: Directions
  • Points West: Directions
  • Points East: Directions
  • Tolls
    • Info
  • Roads to Avoid
    • Info
  • Heavy Traffic Hours
    • Info
  • Time to Arrival

Bus

• Directions
  • Cost:
  • Frequency:
  • Time to Arrival:

Subway/Train

• Directions
  • Cost:
  • Frequency
    • Info
  • Time to Arrival

Recommended Hotels

• Hotel 1 ($$)
  • Address: ## STREETNAME ROADTYPE, CITYNAME, XX Map
• Hotel 2 ($$)
  • Address: ## STREETNAME ROADTYPE, CITYNAME, XX Map

Admissions Overview

Description of how the school runs its admissions process.

• MD Admissions Committee Meets: Monthly. Applicants may be designated 1)AWPA (Accept When Place Available);letters are mailed after meetings. 2)Hold for Later Review, or 3)rejected. Acceptances are offered in batches in December, February, and March, and thereafter as space becomes available. You must be on the AWPA list for an acceptance to be offered. The list is ranked, so a late interviewee is not at a disadvantage. Most, but not all AWPA designees will eventually be admitted.

• MD Selection Criteria (not in order):
  • • Evidence of responsibility, maturity, integrity, and compassion
    • Proper motivation
    • Identification with the goals of the School
    • Exploration of medicine as a career
    • Service orientation
    • Good interpersonal skills

• • MD/JD Admissions Criteria (not in order):

• Number Accepted in 2006: 72
  • MD/JD: XX
• Number Accepted in 20##(-2): XX,XXX (+/- XXX)
  • MD/JD: XX
• Number Accepted in 20##(-3): XX,XXX (+/- XXX)
  • MD/JD: XX
• Rolling Admissions: Yes
  • Begins Accepting for Entry in 2007: 12/##/06
  • Stops Accepting for Entry in 2007(including waitlist): 08/##/07
    • Notification of Acceptance by: Snail Mail or Phone (in late summer)
      • Some Interviewers Call to Notify of Acceptance: No

Waitlists (called AWPA)

• Ranked: Yes
• Tiers: No
• Average size:
• Movement Amount: High
• Movement begins for 2007: After 12/07. A surge around 05/15/07.

Acceptance/Matriculation

• Accept Offer Within (you may hold multiple acceptances until 05/15/07): 2 weeks
• Second Look Weekend: none
• Classes Begin: 08/13/07 Orientation 8/09/07. White Coat Ceremony 8/10.
  • Note: More information in About the School

The Down-Low

Section purpose: To provide useful information not found in books, adcoms, websites, etc. These are actions that have been rumored to help your chances in gaining admission to said medical school. Keep responses in bullet format, prose may be used in discussion section. Limit only to those that are most relevant and true.

For Suggestions and/or to Make Contributions: See/Edit Suggestions for The Down-Low

Pre-Interview

• They will send you the addresses where your two interviews are located. Be sure you know where they are ahead of time (arrive early to scope it out and/or check a map, as you may have 5-10 minutes to get to the second interview. You may get lost in the maze of the building, or you may have to travel a mile away. You don't want to be late.

Interview Day

• Bring a list of questions. It is your responsibility to be sure there is no "dead air" during the interview, so have some resources to keep the conversation going. You can ask the same questions at the second interview if necessary.

Post-Interview

• Send a note of appreciation to each interviewer. Their addresses are on-line. Mention something you enjoyed discussing at the interview. Say something you feel is a positive about the school. Thank them for the time they took out of their schedule to speak with you. Be brief, so they will read it.

About the School

Medical Curricula

• Overview

The general curriculum is felt to be primarily Problem Based Learning (PBL).

• First-year: Anatomy, embryology, physiology. There are three different organ-based modules during the year. Physical exam is taught the first year. You will be assigned a mentor physician in the community whom you will meet with regularly for a half day. You can request the specialty you'd most like to have exposure to.
• Second-year: Courses taken
• Third-year: Courses taken
• Fourth-year: Courses taken

Program A (MD)

• Time: 4 years
• Pre-orientation 6/08/07
• Orientation Begins for Class of 2011: 8/09/07 for 2 days
• Classes Start for Class of 2011: 8/13/07
• Focus: Primary Care, but half the class matches in other specialities
• Block Scheduling: No
• Year Curriculum started: When the Medical School opened, a straight lecture format was used. The switch to PBL is more recent.
• Requires Laptop: Recommended
  • Laptop Provided by School: No

Teaching Styles

• Traditional Lecture: Yes
  • Days per Week: This is highly variable. During the M1 year, there are 3 hours of lecture on Thursday in a state-of-the-art auditorium, but others occur at irregular times throughout the week.
  • Attendance Required: No
  • Videotaped: No, not the lectures.
    • Available Online: Yes for the most part. It depends on the lecturer.
  • Transcription Service: No, not in the current M1 year, but it's been done in the past.
  • Total Time per Week: For the M1 year, 6-8 hours/week, excluding labs.

• Problem-based Learning: Primary mode of education.
  • Days per Week: M1=M,W,&F. A facilitator is present. M2-M4=M&F.
    • Total Time per Week: M1=about 9 hours/week required. Groups may arrange to meet in addition to this, as needed.

Anatomy

• Number of Students per Cadaver: 7-8 divided into two teams.
• Ventilation in Room: Good

USMLE Preparation/Results

• Number of Weeks Given for Studying:
• Mean Step 1 Score in 2006: 213 (SD = 19)
  • 100% passed 2005
  • 97% passed 2006
• National Mean Step 1 Score in 2006: 218 (SD = 23)

Program B (MD/JD)

• Average Time: 6 years
• Focus:
• Year Curriculum started: ####

Medical Years

• Medical school same as MD-only students: Yes
  • Additional Courses Taken During School Year: None. The first two years are soley at the law school. During the last of 4 subsequent medical school years, several electives are law-based and give credit towards both programs.
• Additional Sub-Programs Offered:

Program C (MD/?)

• Time: X years
• Orientation Begins for Class of 20##: ##/##/## for XX days
• Classes Start for Class of 20##: ##/##/##
• Focus: [Pick: General Medicine; Science/Quantitative; Public Health; Other]
• Year Curriculum started: ####

 ? Year(s)

•  ??

Finances

MD Finances

• Cost of Living in CITY: Cheap
• Need Car: Yes

Cost of Attendance

• Information for Class starting 2007, First-year
  • Tuition and fees: $23,856
  • Books, Supplies, Microscope & Equipment (estimate): $1,554
  • Lodging & Utilities & Food (estimate): $7,560
  • Personal & Transport (estimate): $4,156
  • Total: $37,126

MD/JD Finances

• Stipend Amount: $##,####
• Need Car: Yes/No
• Most Students: Buy/Rent Houses/Condos
• Houses/Condos Affordable with Stipend: Yes/No
• Paid-for Second Look Weekend: Yes/No

Financial Aid

• Requires
  • FAFSA Required: Yes
    • FAFSA School Code: E00472
  • College Scholarship Service Required: Yes/No
    • College Scholarship Service (CSS) School Code: 3445
• Financial Aid Coordinator: Mr./Mrs. XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX [1]
  • Address:
    • Line 1
    • Line 2
    • Line 3
    • Line 4
    • Line 5
  • Phone:
  • Email: SCHOOLAID@SCHOOL.EDU
  • Financial Aid Website

• Offers Financial Aid: Yes/No
• Percent receiving aid: ##%
• Average Indebtedness of Graduates:
• Scholarships
  • Scholarship A (#): $###### for X time
  • Scholarship B (#): $###### for X time
• Other Financial Aid Opportunities:

Match List

Information for Class of 2###

• Percent Matching Top Choice:
• Percent Matching Top Three Choices:
• Match List

Affiliated Hospitals

• Hospital 1
  • Address: ## STREETNAME ROADTYPE, CITYNAME, XX Map
  • Type: Public/Private
  • Number of Beds:
• Hospital 2
  • Address: ## STREETNAME ROADTYPE, CITYNAME, XX Map
  • Type: Public/Private
  • Number of Beds:

As A Student

Student Housing

• On Campus Housing: Yes
• Subsidized in CITY: No

• Areas Where Most Students Live
  • Near or on campus-can walk, bike, or take a bus.
    • pricier and more likely to be noisy
    • Amenities vary with landlord
  • Out of town
    • Cheaper and roomier, but obtainable 10-20 minutes away by car.
    • Amenities vary with landlord

Student Activities

• Bars
• Clubs
• Music
• Movies: Accessible via the campus bus route.
• Malls: A large mall is easily accessible via the campus bus route, as is **Wal-Mart, food stores.
• Sports/Outdoors:
• Sports/Indoors: There is an outstanding Student Recreation facility that is free to all students. It has a climbing wall, indoor pool, indoor track, workout room, small rooms for sports needing more limited amounts of space, etc. Lessons in many forms of martial arts and other exercise-related activities are available.
• Student Groups
  • AOA, Free clinic, IM Sports, etc.

Libraries

• Libraries: The main campus library is next to the medical school, but is in the middle of a several-year renovation project. Lindergren Hall, where the med school is located, has its own library. It is not accessable on weekends.
  • Hours?

Good Study Areas

• All medical students get a key to the medical school and have access 24 hour/day, including all-night parking passes. There are many small rooms available for private or group study activities.

Best Places to Buy Stuff

• School bookstore
• Amazon.com

Useful Links

• The Student Doctor Network (SDN)
  • SDN Forums
  • SDN Interview Feedback
• Post-Baccalaureate Program
• Graduate School
• Link
• Link
• Link

Edit this page | Discuss this page | Page history | What links here | Related changes Main Page | About Student Doctor Network Wiki | Recent changes |   This page has been accessed 1,525 times. This page was last modified 17:05, 2 November 2007. Content is available under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 .