Application Cycle One: 2007

• Undergraduate college: Purdue University
• Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences

• Overall GPA: 4.00
• Science GPA: 4.00

Summary of Application Experience

June 1st - Transcript Verified by AMCAS
June 5th - Submitted Primary Application
June 6th - Primary Application Verified
June 21st - Primary Application Sent To Schools
All July - Working On Secondaries...
August 1 - Almost Finished With Secondaries! Only three to go!
August 14 - So Close! Just Waiting on Emory!!!
September 11 - Finally received / finished the Emory application!
September 22 - Added Rochester... they seem really cool!


Late August - Note...
So far four interviews, I'm guessing that I will end up going to about ten or so. I'm sure by then I'll be pretty tired (and more than likely broke)!

Anyways, if you haven't heard it before and are looking at my profile... just follow this one piece of advice: apply early, apply early, apply early! Take your MCAT in April, submit your primary in June, and get secondaries done within one week of receiving them! It's still summer and I will be done with all my secondaries and have already received four interviews, so it's worth the work to keep on top of things. Plus, it'll be much easier when school starts!

Second (and last) piece of advice is to apply broadly! I applied to 18 schools (~3 reach, ~7-8 target, ~7-8 below range). For me, it would be better to apply to a couple extra schools and spend a little extra money than spend another year applying. Also, although this process is not a 'crapshoot' like many people complain, it is difficult to get in and there are a great deal of qualified applicants (and you and me are not that special)... so be smart!

Mid-September - Note...
A couple more interviews added -> Toledo and Emory.
I'd really like to interview at Dartmouth, Northwestern, Loyola, Rush, and Rochester... but it's time to play the waiting game.

Early October - Note...
Thinking I was in an interview lull... and then just got news from University of Pennsylvania and Columbia! Anxiously awaiting mid-October where the first acceptances can be passed out!

Mid-October - Note...
Just got into IUSM! Still have a long way to go until I decide where I want to go / will end of going, but it's definitely great to know that I will be going somewhere. So, a LONG way to go in the process, but definitely a great start!

Early November - Note...
Decided not to interview at Columbia. Just didn't feel right about the school and right now can't afford the plane tickets. Also found out I got into University of Toledo and Creighton University! Finally, got interviews at MCW and Cornell, bringing my total up to 10, which is pretty exciting!

Mid-January - Note...
Received ~1/2 tuition scholarship at IUSM! Will definitely make it difficult to make a decision in the future. Also, received interview at Northwestern finally, so I have four more to go as it stands.

Late January - Note...
All I have left is the NW interview and I'll be done. Decided to not go to Rochester as I don't forsee myself going there, plus I'm tired and broke after ten interviews. Ten was my goal and happy to have reached it... so now it's just time to wait.

Early February - Note...
Just finished my last interview, sent out my last thank you letter, and my last letter of interest = Done. Pretty awesome! Now time to wait until March to see what is going to happen!

Early May - Note...
Decided on IUSM over Northwestern... Just felt the $ difference was large enough (10k/year scholarship at IUSM => 182k debt and 15k/year grant at NW => 212k debt) along with being closer to family. Also, as I don't want to do research and was not convinced by PBL the decision was made easier.

Late May - Note...
Just found out that I received a full-tuition scholarship!!!!!! So, guess I made the right decision!