Brief Profile:
Work experience in technology for 7 years. Volunteer & research experience at San Francisco General. Misc non-medical work and volunteer experience An all around nice and caring person (probably doesnt count)
I hope that profile helps folks applying in future years. As a non-traditional applicant, I was without any reference points, save for this site. Hopefully, my story can offer some guidance to others who are wondering about GPA/MCAT balance, timing of applications, interviews, and offers. As you can see, it's challenging to get into a california school, and your state of residency doesn't help much.
I'd also love to hear from other applicants who are considering the same the schools.
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 2005
Undergraduate college: Yale
Undergraduate Area of study: Physical Sciences
Institution: UC Berkeley
Area of Study: Biological/Life Sciences
Institution: Cal State East Bay
Area of Study: Biological/Life Sciences
Total MCAT SCORE: 523
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 131,
C/P 132,
CARS 129
Overall GPA: 3.30
Science GPA: 3.40
Summary of Application Experience
It's should be interesting to see how this goes. I didn't do so well in undergrad, but did great on my postbac stuff nine years later. It strange that I should get interview offers from great places like Case Western, but get rejected by GW (& I assume Temple). I hypothesize a secret cabal within the medical community that decides where you're going to go. I also think that they may read these profiles.
January Update: So I'm in the post-holiday limbo waiting to hear from (any) of the UC's or Baylor. I sent them an update letter telling them that they were a top choice for me. Perhaps I should have begged more. I'm contemplating whether to go out to Cleveland (case) now that I've gotten into Pittsburgh, and also wish that I had applied to Columbia and maybe some of the UT schools. I liked the einstein visit too & ran into a former co-worker there.
Feb update: I got into Pritzker on 1/27! I got rejected by Stanford on 2/1! I called Davis & they told me that I should be hearing something (rejection?) in the next week or two. I'd sure like to get the opportunity to interview at Baylor or UC Davis.
2/6 Got accepted by Case Western (via Very Thin Envelope). Interviewed there Jan 20th. That's some quick turnaround & surprising given that I had quite a debate with my interviewer.
2/8 Got an invite to Baylor! A top top, top top top choice. I'm very excited.
2/13 got interview from Tufts via snail mail (a big envelope) despite bouncing the check for the application fee
2/16 Got in invite from UC Davis!!! Now I feel at peace with the admissions process. I would be delighted to attend Davis or Baylor. I feel very fortunate.
Of the schools remaining, I'm only interested in interviewing at the UC's & Mt. Sinai. I guess that I should probably withdraw from the others. It's going to be a tuff choice in May.
2/18 Got the boot by OHSU, but they invited me to apply to their postbac program if I get rejected by all the other medical schools out there AND have been disadvantaged economically and educationally.
2/21 got the boot from NYU. No duh. I would advise not bothering to apply to them if your application isn't in super-early. Plus, what's so great about them that Mt. Sinai doesn't have?
2/24 got the boot from GW. I really don't get the logic for selecting whom to interview.
2/28 got an email from UCSD telling me what day I will interview. Wow!
I hear that there are 2 weeks left for UCLA.
3/1 got an invite from mt. sinai, my favorite school in NYC!
3/6 check my applicant status page from UCLA. Tells me that a final decision letter has been mailed. Sounds like rejection. Despite all the good stuff, I can't help but feel a little bummed.
3/13 Withdrew from Tufts. The trip out to NYC has sapped any remaining desire to travel cross country. Also, what's with USC and Einstein? I interviewed over two months ago at those places & haven't heard anything?
3/17 Got rejected from NJ U.
Let it be known that it has taken > 2 months to hear back from Einstein & USC. I will post when/if I hear anything from them. Talked to someone at USC. They said that my application hadn't yet gone to committee.
3/20 Got the call from Baylor! I'm in. Transcripts delayed the whole thing
3/22 I get a weird letter from Einstein today saying that they have reviewed my canidacy favorably and if I have been admitted to my first choice school that I should withdraw from them. They then enclose an envelope (but without postage) for future correspondance. Is this a waitlist? Are they reading this page?
3/24 Withdrew from Case. I could definitely see myself attending any of the schools that I'm still active at. My choice is now more based on where my wife will be most comfortable/happy rather than particular programs.
3/27 Got into Mt. Sinai!
5/1 Email UCSD, b/c I haven't heard anything. I get this as response 'I am sure you received the letter letting you know you are in the pool of acceptable applicants.'
5/2 Withdrew from Pritzker. Great school, but too much class time. It's down to Sinai & Baylor.
5/5 Got waitlisted by USC. It's hard to get into a cali school!
5/13 Likely to pick Baylor on the 15th. The tuition (in and out of state) is just too good to offset a slight preference for Mt. Sinai.
5/15 Picked Baylor
5/21 Visited Houston with fiancee. Fiancee returned with heat exhaustion and mosquito bites covering her limbs.
5/22 Got off the UCSD waitlist. SD student report misery during preclincial years due to insane curriculum. Hmmm... miserable wife or miserable me?
5/24 Got off einstein waitlist. forgot about them. declined offer.
Gonna go to UCSD. We'll see if it's as intense as they say it is.
