Brief Profile:
This is my third year applying, first applying to DO in addition to MD. ECs: 650+ hours hospital volunteering with patient contact, leadership role training and establishing volunteer program. award nomination for service. 160+ hours shadowing, all MD, mostly surgery but a total of 4 specialties Seasonal volunteer neurobiology research, about 200 hours, no publications. Social psychology human subjects research (ongoing). Physiology TA for one semester, MCAT instructor (ongoing), various tutoring roles (volunteer). CNA training, 150 hours. Certification came after I was hired as an MCAT instructor so I have not been employed as a CNA yet. Blue collar customer service job for 2 years post-grad (nothing impressive but at least I was busy) Currently teaching MCAT prep (since late 2011)
I struggled early in college due to loss of 2 close family members and acquiring a permanent disability, grades were crap for a few semesters including one WM (medical withdrawal), 3 W\'s, a handful of C\'s and one D. I pulled together and achieved a 3.9 avg for my last two years, in primarily upper division science, with Dean\'s list award every semester. Retook the class with D and changed it to an A, and had the prof write one of my LORs. I have done 17 quarter hours of post bacc undergrad science courses since applying, with a post-bacc GPA of 4.0 (not factored in to overall GPA)
The uphill battle continues but I finally have good news!
Feel free to contact my SDN username if you have any questions
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 10/24/2011
Undergraduate college: Small Private College
Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences
Total MCAT SCORE: 522
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 132,
C/P 129,
CARS 129
Overall GPA: 3.31
Science GPA: 3.51
Summary of Application Experience
AMCAS complete 10/25/2011 AACOMAS complete 11/15/2011 MD secondaries complete late November to early Dec, DO secondaries complete early to mid Dec.
Summary of Experience:
Was interviewed here my second application cycle. Both of my parents and my uncle are alumni of the medical school, proof that there is no legacy program.
Summary of Experience:
DO applicant, but with no DO shadowing. They told me if I could get a DO to write a letter saying I had talked to them that they would invite me for interview, so I consider that a conditional II. Withdrew after DMU accept.
Summary of Experience:
Interview invite for late February, was informed that class was full and that interviews were for WL about a month prior so I withdrew.
Summary of Experience:
This one breaks my heart a little, home state school and I have wanted to be a Husky since middle school. I held off on DO applications until this year primarily so I could get another shot at UW. My first time I was 2 spots away from acceptance off waitlist when it closed, post-interview rejections last two cycles. Interviews went well, maybe I will have a chance for a residency here when the time comes.
Summary of Experience:
I wasn\'t overly sold on this program, immediate area around school is rough and expensive to live in, campus was not very impressive, and we have group interviews which was pretty lame (each applicant gets to speak for maybe 9 min total). I do have a relative here who is happy with the program though.
Summary of Experience:
Waitlisted, quick turn around on this one. I got the letter a week after my interview. Apparently they have a huge waitlist (~350 ppl) so I won\'t hold my breath. Waitlisted on middle third, low chance of success. I did not have a very favorable impression of this school from the interview day, but the location was really historically interesting, weather was great.
Summary of Experience:
Liked the program a lot and was impressed with the facilities and opportunities for research. Interviews were relaxed, even fun, and the interviewers seemed genuinely interested in me. My current top choice but it is a long shot I think, and they appear to take a long time to get back to people. Fingers crossed.
Update: Placed on high priority waitlist, and according to SDN everyone on the HPWL the last two years were accepted, but I can\'t count on anything. Fingers doubly crossed.
Summary of Experience:
COMP-NW, first interview and first med school acceptance. Liked the school and everyone was very friendly, but it was a little too new and small for my liking.
Summary of Experience:
Liked the program, campus and facilities were solid. Option to rotate at University of Arizona was appealing. Program was newer than ideal school but had solid stats and match lists. Fastest acceptance notification ever. Decided on DMU over this program, but both were good.
Summary of Experience:
I loved this program and all the students I met there, facilities were awesome and better than many MD programs, also solid match list and stats, established reputation and rotations. Des Moines was nice too and cost of living is low, as is program cost. My top choice DO program and I will happily enroll if I don\'t get in to my remaining MD programs, and even then it will be a tough decision. If you are considering medical schools I recommend checking out DMU.
