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MD Applicants

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  • nirvikalpa

  • Application cycles:
  • Demographics: Female, 35, Caucasian
  • Home state: New Jersey
  • Last Active: 09/11/2012
  • Brief Profile:
    Only applying to D.O schools: Class of 2018 hopeful!!!


    23 y.o female Caucasian, graduated in 2011 with a BS in Biology from a very small private college.

    LOTS of volunteering: ~200 hours shadowing, ~400 hours as an EMT, ~500 as a red cross disaster services volunteer, ~200 hours research (oral/poster presentation) w/ certificate of excellence, ~240 hours tutoring, ~300 misc.

    cGPA: 3.43
    sGPA: 3.20*
    nsGPA 3.72

    *not official from AACOMAS.

    6/21 MCAT: voided.
    8/10 MCAT: scheduled.

    Quick Links: Personal Statement | Letters of Recommendation | LOR Request Guide | Timeline


    Extra-Curricular Activities


    Research


    Extraction of Phthalates from Plastic using HPLC (200 hours)

    Researched food and liquid contaminants leached from plastic using high performance liquid chromatography for my senior research project, which included a poster and oral presentation. I earned a certificate of excellence for my research and was selected as a participant in the spring undergraduate research and creativity celebration held at Keystone College.

    Physician Shadowing


    2011t: Osteopathic Physicians (200 hours)

    Shadowed two internal medicine Osteopathic physicians who operated a patient-centered medical clinic. Both used OMT regularly (at least once per day).

    Medical Volunteerism


    2011-Present: Emergency Medical Services, EMT (100 hours)

    Volunteer on my local non-profit emergency ambulance corp (urban area, incredibly busy).

    2010-Present: American Red Cross, EMT (300 hours)

    American Red Cross Health Services volunteer (EMT), responding to local and national disasters. Includes two national deployments: Joplin, MO, to assist with tornado relief (one of first 50 volunteers on the ground, responsible for ~500 patients in need of medical care) and White Plains, NY after Hurricane Irene.

    Non-Medical Volunteerism


    2007-Present: American Red Cross, Disaster Services (500 hours)

    Volunteer responder to fires, floods, CO poisonings, tornados, etc. Worked with insurance companies, distributed care packages, provided nourishment for first responders and victims, assisted mental health workers, etc.

    2007-2011: Keystone College Service Club, Member (300 hours)

    Volunteered at events ranging from walking dogs at the local animal shelter and helping to host parties for adults and children with Down Syndrome, to cleaning up highways, planting trees and plants at parks, doing crafts with senior citizens, and cooking for a Thanksgiving meal which fed over 2,000 homeless.

    2008-2010: Keystone College, Peer Tutor (240 hours)

    Peer tutor for science, mathematics, and English classes. I had to maintain a 3.0GPA and not receive a grade lower than a B+ in the courses I wanted to tutor, and must have had a 3.0GPA to me invited to the program.

    2009-2010: Summer Science Camp, Teacher Aide (60 hours)

    Volunteered to teach a science summer camp for disadvantaged middle-school students that aims to foster an interest in the sciences.

    2010: Summer Service Days, Team Leader (40 hours)

    Volunteered to be a team leader for my high school\'s summer service days program, where a group of high school students cleaned yards, fixed houses of worship, mowed the lawns of the elderly, painted churches, etc etc.

    2007-2009: Keystone College Service Club, Public Affairs Officer (100 hours)

    Posted articles/signs around campus to invite other students to participate in Service Club activities. Attended all meetings and gave a speech/update as to the numbers of students participating in activities, and monitored the growth of the club. Also helped petition Student Activities (who were in charge of funding the numerous cubs on campus) to raise the allowance to the Service Club, so we could participate in more events and do more for the local community.

    2008: Senior Nutrition Program, Cook/Distributor (100 hours)

    Cooked and distributed meals to my city\'s senior citizen population. Included meals that were given out at the center, and meals on wheels that distributed to seniors who could not drive or were bed-bound who relied on our cooking for nourishment.

    Letters of Recommendation



    I am using Interfolio to collect my LOR\'s.
    means it\'s on Interfolio and ready to be sent out to schools!!

    Science


    Chair of Biology/Chemistry Department, Research Mentor

    I took many of his classes and excelled. I am sure this will be a stellar letter. He is focusing on my research with phthalates, lab techniques, and my personality.

    Head of Undergraduate Research, Biology Professor, Research Mentor

    Also had many classes of hers and excelled. Expecting a great letter, focusing on my abilities in higher-level biology classes.

    Non-Science


    Psychology Professor

    She LOVED me and actually asked me if she could write a letter for me for medical school. This may be my best letter, and she\'s focusing on my overall personality and my ability to excel at both science AND humanities/social science classes.

    American Red Cross Supervisor

    He\'s known me for 6 years as I volunteered w/ the ARC. His letter will focus on my volunteerism (including medical volunteerism) and my passion to helping those in need.

    Medical


    Osteopathic Physician (Shadowed)

    Loved me, and let me shadow for more than 200 hours. I am expecting a great letter on my passion for the osteopathic principals and my hands-on experience with patients at the clinic.

    LOR Request Letter


    I know a lot of pre-med\'s are uncomfortable asking their teachers for LORs, so I am posting my template I used to ask (my teachers said they thought it was well-written, and every one agreed to write me a letter). It had been around a year since I had spoke with my UG professors.

    Dear Professor [Name],

    I hope this email finds you well and that you had a great academic year. I can\'t believe the class of \'12 is graduating this Saturday and I have been out of college now for a year! I have been volunteering my time at my local EMS squad as well as continuing to volunteer with the Red Cross. I am also preparing for the MCAT, which I will take late June, and I am applying to Osteopathic medical school this year (for entrance in fall 2013). Start off by just conversing about yourself, what you\'ve done since you last saw them, etc.

    I am writing to ask if you would be willing to write me a strong letter of recommendation for my application to medical school. I feel that by having you as my Capstone mentor and my Capstone teacher, as well as having you as a teacher for upper-level Biology classes I did well in (Immunology and Biochemistry), that you know I have a passion for medicine and the workings of the human body, and that I work my hardest and succeed even through personal hardships (when my fiance left me during Capstone). Give specific examples of why this teacher knows you better than others, compel them to write a letter for you.

    If you are willing to recommend me, I do have a packet that I can mail out or schedule to meet with you and go over - whichever is easier for you - which has a copy of my resume, facts about me that could make the writing process easier, a guide for submitting the letters to Interfolio, and other materials that could best help you. The letter of recommendation would be due the first week of July. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me by phone at [phone] or by email at [email]. Push them to write a letter for you by giving them strict time limits but not forcing, as well as giving them multiple ways to contact you. Always let them know they are free to contact you with questions/concerns.

    Thank you for all you have done for me during my time at [college] (especially during Bio Seminar and Research/Capstone when you answered each and every question I had and were so supportive), and for your time and consideration. I hope you have a great day at Graduation tomorrow. Closing, reiterate all they\'v done for you and that you\'re thankful for that. Wish them a good summer, or a good semester.

    Sincerely,
    [Name]



    LOR Packet


    After my LOR writers agreed to write a letter for me, I began assembling a \"packet\" to make their writing experience a little easier. The packet consisted of:

    Interfolio guidebook to uploading/mailing their letters
    Interfolio LOR request with custom ID#
    \"facts about me\" page which discussed my hobbies and enjoyments
    updated CV
    non-science and science/math grades (made in word, it wasn\'t on a transcript or anything)
    starbuck\'s giftcard - they\'re writing a letter as a favor to you, they can use a refreshing coffee or a pastry.

    Personal Statement


    Focused on my deployment by the Red Cross to Joplin, MO to assist with tornado relief. I went as an EMT, and was one of the first 50 red cross volunteers on the ground... directly responsible for around 500 patients. Related my experience to osteopathic medicine and the qualities that make a good physician.
    (will post complete PS after [hopeful] acceptance)


    Timeline


    May


    05/18: Sent out 3 emails to my UG professor\'s requesting a LOR (see an example here).
    05/31: Sent out Transcript Requests to CC#1, CC#2, UG, and CC#1-2.

    June


    06/06: AACOMAS states transcripts were received from CC#1, UG, and CC#1-2... missing CC#2.
    06/07: MCAT scores in, waiting for June 21st MCAT to submit; AACOMAS officially complete, NOT submitted.
    06/12: Sent out LOR packets (see here what that consisted of) to LOR writers (delivery con\'f them).
    06/15: All LOR packets arrived.
    06/21: MCAT attempt, voided; AACOMAS submitting put on hold ; received teacher\'s LOR today on Interfolio.
    06/23: Scheduled for 8/10 MCAT.
    06/24: MCAT studying resumes.
    06/26: Received 2nd LOR; first science letter.

    July


    07/05: Have not received other science LOR, nothing else new.
    07/08: Sent \"polite reminder\" email to sci LOR writer. Debating submitting AACOMAS to 1 school to get verified.
    07/18: Called up LOR science writer, no answer, left message. Letter uploaded 5 minutes later.

    August


    08/01: Submitted AACOMAS.

    September


    09/06: AACOMAS verified.
    09/11: MCAT scores uploaded; decision made to sit out the rest of this cycle and apply next year.
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