Brief Profile:
Non-traditional -- Ph.D. Made this to be of help to other Ph.D.s who might ever aspire to medical school! Ph.D. is from a school generally regarded to be the best in my field, and lots of other technical fields.
My story is a bit complicated -- basically I'm making a somewhat drastic switch from basic science research to global health work (which may still involve lab research -- too early to say) -- and so admittedly it's been a little bit difficult to explain. Do have a somewhat interesting "story" behind the switch though.
Applied extremely top heavy in retrospect -- really could have prepared a bit more for the application cycle in terms of finding more "target" schools and brushing up secondaries and such -- but grateful to have at least been accepted somewhere!
ECs/achievements: Grad: medical advocacy volunteer, volunteer/endowed internship for renowned health non-profit with grant, local tutoring, volunteer elder visitor/helper, some hospital shadowing, TA (required in my program), NSF Graduate Research Fellow, Master's (no thesis, more technical practicum), five papers (all first author, general mainstream journals) Undergrad: variety of STEM-related volunteer activities (tutoring, mentor to high school students, that sort of thing), full ride scholarship, Phi Beta Kappa and other various honors from university, TA, undergrad research, seven papers (four first author, general mainstream journals)
Things I might have done differently: 1. Not put off interviews (currently working abroad) 2. Not worked abroad (this is a tough one -- I've loved my work but it's definitely made the application process more difficult) 3. Waited a year to gain more clinical exposure and perhaps work in the States with a potentially more lucrative salary to save up 4. Spent more time on certain secondaries (definitely do not rush these!) 5. Spent more time studying for the MCAT (Ph.D. work still took precedence during the couple of months that I studied, though I think my score is probably good "enough" for any school) 6. Pursued actual passion in undergrad (re: probably NOT majored in what I majored in) and spent time exploring medicine instead of ignoring the field entirely (this is arguably the biggest one)
Please feel free to ask questions!
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 06/14/2015
Undergraduate college: Flagship state school
Undergraduate Area of study: Engineering/Technology
Total MCAT SCORE: 520
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 127,
C/P 132,
CARS 132
Overall GPA: 3.95
Science GPA: 3.91
Summary of Application Experience
Notes on interviews: Always focus on telling STORIES in both your primary and your secondaries, and take the time you need to really craft them. I probably would have benefitted from prewriting secondaries. I also probably would have benefitted from taking a little extra time to tailor each secondary to the formatting requirements of each school. Rolling admissions is a thing. I didn't pay attention to this at the outset. Personally would advise interviewing as early as you can if possible. Student hosts have been generally awesome and generous. I'm grateful to them and will likely pay it forward in this fashion in the future. I feel like I could have better prepared for MMIs. I do think one can actually practice for these. Interviews may surprise you -- I came in assuming I would like certain schools over others and definitely have changed my mind after interviews. I would advise just going in with at least some ideas as to why you applied to that school and what questions you may have, but without any other expectations. Just talk to interviewees and students, and enjoy the day!
Summary of Experience:
California chill is real. Students are extremely chill here, and very nice. Very impressive medical school, though interview day doesn't do a great job of selling it. Pretty much has anything you want in terms of resources. Emphasis on social justice. Very pleasant weather. Along with UCSF and Stanford, I'd consider this to be the other "top-tier" school in California. Scholarship aid is a big attractor here! (David Geffen is quite the philanthropist.) Traffic is also very real though, and students are extremely California heavy and were very motivated to stay in California in coming here. Can't blame them, though I do appreciate a bit more geographic diversity.
Withdrew. Didn't see the point in extending this one. Plus, probably would have been waitlisted and or rejected.
Summary of Experience:
Prestigious brand name. Very impressive research facilities and infrastructure. Very impressive student body. Nice weather, not too far from SF. The school seems to spoil its students with resources (TA funding, funding for conferences, funding for research, etc. etc.). Prestigious university with other excellent schools that students can access. Great connections to Silicon Valley and start-up culture of course. Wasn't very keen on living in Palo Alto though: probably one of the most expensive places and wealthiest to live in the country (if not THE most) and wasn't very convinced by tour guide that this is a great place to serve the underserved.
Summary of Experience:
Very big emphasis on ECs and things that interest students outside the realm of medicine. I feel like they want students to keep doing the things that makes them, *them* (aside from physician aspirations). Vast resources befitting for a "top-tier" school. Perhaps the coolest features that I found: Asylum Clinic, very social students, nice emphasis on global health. Great for anyone looking to live in NYC!
Note: was explicitly told by interviewer and other faculty that 3 year Ph.D.-to-M.D. program was not quite right for my profile. I imagine if I wanted to continue my research trajectory and practice medicine, it would be, but this is not the case for me. Just to let other prospective Ph.D. applicants know.
Summary of Experience:
Pittsburgh is a very enjoyable city -- far different from what I was expecting. The school and its students are also pleasant. Big emphasis on performing some sort of research. The hospital system seems to dominate the city. Recommend if you'd like to be in a small city and seek to do traditional basic science or clinical research!
Summary of Experience:
Very good school on the rise, though not impressed by the talk about rise in rankings. Forward-thinking administration. Bellevue was probably the most impressive feature.
Summary of Experience:
Very, very impressive school. Research and clinical powerhouse. Dean interviewed me and made the argument that you actually get more diversity in patient population than other places since Barnes-Jewish serves not only St. Louis, but also surrounding suburban and rural areas. Found St. Louis pleasant but not close to large urban cities I prefer. The school seems geared towards those aspiring to the traditional academic medicine-type career.
Summary of Experience:
If applying, learn the Yale system and determine if you would thrive in that environment. New Haven isn't a bad city, though I considered this to be the biggest con for me (as someone who's generally lived near large urban areas and doesn't really want to move away). INCREDIBLE resources for students, particularly in global health! And the match list is amazing.
Funny side story: I completely failed to even mention the Yale system in my secondary. Also had a few typos. I think an update letter might have been helpful (I finally mentioned the Yale system).
Matriculating here. After a lot of thought, it was just the best fit for the type of career I want to have. That's really it. Returning to New England!
Summary of Experience:
Great school! Dean feels like a NY go-getter, in a good way. Awesome location with exposure to East Harlem alongside the Met, the Guggenheim, Central Park, etc. (I'm big on museums and other city amenities.) Firmly believe its USNWR ranking doesn't do it justice. Very student-centric place.
Withdrew. Would have loved to have lived in Manhattan though.
Amazing, top-tier, student-centric school. Unless you have no interest in underserved populations and or cities, GREAT location. Resources for pretty much anything you'd want to pursue (lab research, community service, etc.). Very accepting of non-traditionals (like myself!), though of course traditionals welcome too. Interdisciplinary scholarship as stated in its mission statement is big here. The merit aid is also awesome.
Withdrew. This was extremely tough. I feel like I would have really enjoyed this city, and the school is really great with a big family feel. Plus the merit aid. And they do an OUTSTANDING job of selling their school (rumor on SDN by the time I withdrew was that they were in danger of overenrolling). But alas, another school was ultimately a better fit for my intended career trajectory.
Summary of Experience:
Southern charm is real. People here were incredibly nice. Charlottesville has great quality of life at an affordable cost (though a bit far from major urban areas). The school is very good -- nice facilities, nice training hospital, etc. Student-centric, nurturing administration. Perhaps doesn't offer quite as much resources for global health as other schools.
