My application is definitely not the strongest among the others-but was disappointed I didn't get more interviews in Texas. The random schools are due to the fact that
1. I am a TX resident and would love to stay here
2. Nearly all of my family is in Chicago and love the city-see myself living there long term someday
3. I received the financial assistance for AMCAS-so the OOS schools were random other than Chicago. Wish I would have picked more realistic places.
I placed UTH above TCOM (North Texas) in the match because I loved the school, Houston, and the TX Med Center. Was super disappointed in being waitlisted. The Baylor interview was very unexpected-thought it was a joke. I think I had pretty decent interviews there but honestly their avgs are way above mine.
But no complaints-going to a great school and I am going to practice medicine.That is all there is to it. The following breaks down my app and at the end I provided some advice to reapps or new applicants.
a) My MCAT score is from Aug 2008. The first one I took in Apr 2008 I got a 26O ( PS 8 VR 9 WS O BS 9). That day half the MCAT takers in Austin were called and told that the labs were down and that they would have to reschedule. I got a call from a friend who was told everyone couldn't take it. So I freaked and went to the test way early, to find out I was one of the fortunate who still could take it. Well my nerves were shot and I finished the Physical Sciences (my worst section) with a definite 4 unanswered questions, possibly more. Went into shock and ruined the rest of the test. So I practiced my test taking skills all summer and took it again in August. I hate writing-hence the drop from O to N. ADVICE: Study, but definitely PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE-time will bite you more than the material.
b) My GPA's are odd-nearly a 4.0 in my major and minor (Spanish). But the sciences I didn't commit enough too. Lots of Bs, As in orgo and bio chem, but two very hurtful Cs in Bio-an intro and one upper div. Hurt my application a lot. ADVICE: Take your pre-med courses seriously, I know that sounds odd b/c everyone knows that but really, try your hardest and prioritize these classes above all others if you really want med school.
c) ECs-I unfortunately never committed to anything long term except American Lung Assoc. A lot of this had to do with my mom getting sick. Fall '06 I was gone every two weeks visiting her in AZ and then Spring '07 I withdrew. By the time I came back I desperately tried to finish school in 2 semesters b/c that's how my scholarship paid. ADVICE: Although I felt that in my semester off that I got all the clinical experience I could get, I didn't have a formal shadow experience.
--->SHADOW-people in undergrad told me it didn't matter so much but it does.
--->Get good clinical experience.
--->Stay with activities long term.
--->And once you are done applying KEEP DOING THEM and try and find new ones-they will make for great update letters that you send to schools.
d) Interviews-be yourself and prepare answers to the typical questions ie why do you want to be a doctor, tell me about yourself, and where do you see yourself in X years.
MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE: APPLY EARLY EARLY EARLY!!! Collect letter of recs early. Figure out how to order transcripts early. EVERYTHING early. I applied to TMDSAS slightly earlier than my AMCAS schools but really the stuff should have been done by late MAY. I was lazy with the secondaries. Take them seriously and send them off no later than one week after you get them.
Feel free to comment !! And comment if you have any questions!!
