How to totally sabotage your VMCAS application
1. Don’t review the resources noted in this newsletter.
2. Absolutely DO NOT send the VMCAS LOR Guidelines to you letter writers; That way, while the letters will likely point out your great qualities, they will totally lack any of the specific details VMCAS and Admissions Committee want to know about you and will therefore be nearly useless.
3. Don’t read the VMCAS LOR Guidelines, either. This helps you to be totally unfamiliar with what you should be demonstrating and what to avoid when asking for LORs.
4. Don’t waive your right to review your letters of recommendation. So what if not doing so means your letter writers will be less candid and programs might think you have something to hide! It’s your right,man!!
5. Don’t send copies of your VMCAS essay and resume to your letter writers.
6. Be sure to submit your VMCAS application on the final due date-not at least three weeks beforehand. That way, admissions coordinators at the programs to which you’re applying won’t have enough time to review your application and won’t be able to suggest corrections to you.
7. Don’t start working on your application too early; wait until two weeks before the due date to start.
8. Wait until the last minute to find out how to register for any tests (such as CASPer, GRE, etc ) required by the programs to which you are applying.
9. In the Experiences section of the VMCAS application, be sure to only include the experiences and achievements that you think admissions committees want to see. Don’t bother mentioning your involvement in campus ministries, intramural sports , hobbies, clubs (unless they are animal related), high school activities and achievements, volunteering, etc. Make this section as brief as possible. Underselling yourself is the key.
10. Be sure to use ChatGPT or other AI resources to write your essay. AI writes better than you and you probably won’t get caught using plagiarism, so the chances that you’ll be censored and unable to apply ever again are pretty low.
11. If you MUST write your essay using your own words, don’t bother working with the Writing Center. You probably won’t have any grammatical errors; you talk good and write good to. Also don’t bother having your essay reviewed by someone who knows you well. You know yourself well enough and probably haven’t forgotten to include anything significant.
12. To totally sabotage your VMCAS application, closely adhere to all of the above points. If you want a strong application, however, do the exact opposite of what each of these points suggests!