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MD Applicants

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  • THISTIME

  • Application cycles: 06/25/2010
  • Demographics: Male, 38, Caucasian
  • Home state: Washington
  • Last Active: 05/25/2011
  • Brief Profile: As a high school senior, I followed a hunch and enrolled in a CNA course. The clinical opportunities that have followed make that the best decision I have ever made.

    After working several years in the critical care setting, I now realize how much I prefer personal interaction over time spent in a lab, OR, etc. There are amazing things done in the OR and lives saved in the ER and ICU, but sooooo many of these people are far down a road of chronic illness. I have become intrigued by the potential of primary care, preventive medicine and public health efforts. Maybe there is less pay in primary care, but so what, there is a serious need to look at the big picture and improve everyday health. I know there are many sides to this argument, so PM me if you have any feedback. I would love to chat.

    This is my second application cycle. MD schools suggested re-taking my MCAT to improve my PS score. DO schools suggested improving my science GPA. I saw the most potential in retaking two Gen Chem courses that were anchoring my GPA (2.2 & 2.4, which are incorporated into the GPA above). This summer I re-took, and got a 4.0 & 3.3 respectively (who-hoo!). I am eager to see how schools respond to that, with the addition of more clinical work and shadowing in primary care. Below is a brief summary of experiences:


    * 6 years of experience as CNA (5 years ICU - Seattle trauma hospital, 2 years of combined inpatient care @ rural community hospital, home health care, King County Jail, and various inpatient facilties through staffing agency).

    * 1.5 years as Clinical research Assistant (Immunogenic vaccines for breast and ovarian cancer w/ UW Medicine laboratory)

    * Health Educator (local group home for Seattle\'s underserved)

    * 2 years as a Teaching Assistant (Intro & Advanced Biology courses, UW Biology)

    * Shadowed 5 physicians (110 total hours -- Neurosurgery, Pulmonary Medicine, Family Medicine, Public Health & Pediatric Neurology, 2 DOs & 3 MDs)

    * 2 Published articles in undergraduate newspaper ( topic: Healthcare reform)
  • // Applications //

    Application Cycle One: 06/25/2010

    • Undergraduate college: University of Washington
    • Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences
    • Total MCAT SCORE: 502
    • MCAT Section Scores: B/B 127, C/P 124, CARS 126  
    • Overall GPA: 3.35
    • Science GPA: 3.25

    Summary of Application Experience

    06/2010 - DO NOT include independent study abroad programs in AACOMAS or AMCAS (unless they are important pre-reqs)! I had an unreal battle with University of Peru just to get a transcripts for the one class I took there.

    07/2010 - The secondaries roll in. This is a part-time job!

    8/17/2010 - LECOM = first interview invite.

    9/2/2010 - KCOM Interview invite. I am so excited to see such an established program!

    9/2010 - If one could count the number of times I checked my email inbox this month... 2 rejections....waiting on others.

    9/30/2010 - DMU Invite!!

    10/2010 - KCOM & DMU interviews: Both programs are very impressive all around. KCOM: great facilities, and student community. Clinical rotations are clearly top-notch for D.O. schools. After touring the town though, I questioned if my girlfriend & I could handle it.
    DMU: I had a gut feeling about this place from the beginning of the day. Seemed to have everything that KCOM offered, but the little things stood out to me -- it felt like the place for me.

    10/27/2010 - ACCEPTED TO LECOM, KCOM, and DMU!!! The dream is a reality, and it feels good. I think my mind is made up, but still considering attending other interviews (PNWU & ATSU-SOMA).

    11/01/2010 - Matriculating @ DMU. So excited to have cleared the acceptance hurdle. I can now look forward to the next, shaping phase of the journey.

    Applied, Withdrew

    Jefferson Medical College
    Ohio University

    Application Complete, Rejected

    George Washington University
    Chicago College of Mid. University
    Drexel University
    Tulane University
    Philadelphia College - Philadelphia
    University of Washington
    Virginia Commonwealth University

    Invited for Interview

    Pacific Northwest University

    Invited for Interview, Withdrew

    A.T. Still University - Mesa

    Accepted

    Lake Erie College - Erie
    Des Moines University
    A.T. Still University - Kirksville

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