bismillah el rahman el rahim...
9/15- just interviewed at Umich; its an awesome school. I was super impressed by everything it had to offer.
10/03- Waiting eagerly for U of M response. Just heard back from UCLA (really surprised) and Columbia about interviews...
10/15- ACCEPTED at Umich. This is great, praise be to God...It's really nice to have an acceptance at a top school that I really liked this early in the game. The video that they send out is AWESOME. This school continues to impress....
10/17- Just interviewed at Wash U. Awesome facilities and really friendly students, faculty and staff. I really liked the support they seem to provide their students and opportunities for exploration within medicine abound. We'll see.
I also recieved my first rejection. I will not be going to Stanford for an interview. Oh well...
10/21- I recieved an interview at Harvard...SUPER SURPRISED!!
10/27- Harvard is awesome; the students there are really cool people and are very happy to be there. The learning style is also tailor made for me. Boston is definately a city I could see myself living in. We'll see though, nobody gets in to Harvard...
I also got into Wayne, and was offered an interview at UPenn...
11/05- Columbia, and Case done; i liked both schools. I've come to the conclusion that I like all of the schools that I've applied to and making a decision is going to be excruciatingly difficult. Columbia has the feel of a tight-knit medical community in the heart of NYC. Everybody there really seemed to be all about the school. Case is a good ole fashioned midwest university. The medical school seemed very progressive and intent upon the success of its students....
I've got Pritzker and Penn coming up this week as well as my admissions decision at Case...
11/08- Finally done for a while. Finished Chicago and Penn. Both were really nice. Again, I really like all of the schools that I visit. I feel somewhat bad that I'll have to reject everyone that I get into save one. My favorites so far are Harvard, Penn, Michigan, Chicago, Wash U and Columbia. Yeah, I know its alot, but they'll be trimmed down as I hear decisions and financial aid packages.
I also got into Case...
12/16- Got into Wash U! This is huge, an excellent school that I really liked! Praise be to God! My mom, who lives in MO is going to be thrilled!
And I finally finished my Duke app! 6 essays!
12/23- Interviewed at UCLA. Great school in an AMAZING location. We'll see what happens...
1/19- I just finished up Duke: It's an awesome school. Great resources, passionate people, and a decently sized town make it a great place to study medicine. Again, we'll see...
1/25- Just got into Pritzker: great school, we'll see though...
2/07- Patience...
2/27- UCLA! An option in Cali: i'm somewhat surprised, but the interview went really well. Again, we'll see. I'm still waiting on Columbia, Duke, Harvard, and Penn...
3/05- DUKE! Awesome school. Definitely high on the list...still waiting on Harvard, Penn, and Columbia
3/06- Columbia: I guess you can't win 'em all. Its all good; I liked the school, but probably wasn't going to end up there. It wasn't really the place for me. I am eagerly awaiting Harvard and Penn. COME ON HARVARD! Anyway, I'm looking forward to second looks and hashing out my next 4-8 years...
3/20- So I got rejected from Harvard today. I mean its not like it was my dream school or anything. Its not like I wrote them multiple letters, or had profs write LORs addressed specifically to them. Its not like they've got the best Medical Anthropology program in the country, its not like...Ok so I'm a bit crushed.
But hey, on the bright side, I can keep narrowing down my school choices. Its looking like Wash U right now. However, some $$ at Michigan might also be tempting. Penn decision's still on its way. In the mean time, I'll lick my wounds...
3/26- Another relative stinger: 'waitlist tier 1' at penn...whatever that means. I don't know what it is with me and the ivy league: they just DO NOT like me...
Its all gravy though. I can finally make my decision. Wash U is definitely my top choice. Duke is a close second. Michigan= third. However, some $$ at Michigan (if you're listening) might shift the odds...
**To respond to some comments I've gotten, I don't think that I'm being discriminated against at all for being an Arab Muslim. But who ever knows for sure. If thats the case, I'll deal with what I've been given thanking God for it every step of the way...**
3/30- Full-Ride at Michigan. Okay, so that changes things a bit. If niether Duke or Wash U match, then it'll be Michigan for sure. Its true, I kind of want to get out of Michigan...but hey a wolverine 4-8 more years? It wouldn't be bad at all...
4/9/07- Just signed my lease for a place in Ann Arbor. I'll be a Wolverine once again. It's been a long, arduous, and emotionally trying ride, and I'm glad its over. While I may have gotten into more highly ranked schools, I feel that its best to go to the school that has shown the most interest in me. I know that I'll be happy at Michigan: great school, great town, great financial situation, great opportunities.
**My main advice**
Do what you love, work your butt off, be the best you can be...But most of all: be your self.
This process is not 'fair', but it is what it is. Don't apply thinking that anything is a long shot, or that anything is a given. You'll avoid agony, pain, heartbreak, and diffuse loathing and abhoration. Enjoy it for what it is, and know that in the end, you'll get what's coming to you...
Mainly though, when you do get into medical school, don't forget why you're doing it. Realize that in those four years, your aquiring a tremendous gift; one wrought with a mesh of opportunity and responsibility. Everyday you put on that white coat, you hold an individual's life and well-being in your hands:
PLEASE don't ever let the smell of money or the taste of a certain lifestyle ever compromise your commitment to the responsibility you owe every single patient that walks into your office/operating room/clinic/hospital....
peace to all
