Application Cycle One: 2008

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

• Total MCAT SCORE: 526
• MCAT Section Scores: B/B 132, C/P 132, CARS 132   Detailed Breakdown
• Overall GPA: 2.92
• Science GPA: 3.67

Summary of Application Experience

9/28: Pritzker and U. Washington passed post-secondary despite the MCAT, so no interviews there, which sucked a little that they didn't give me a chance to answer for my early college grades.

10/8: Mount Sinai interview, my first! Much more relaxed than I'd expected. I'd heard interviews weren't so bad but it's hard to know what exactly to expect. My idea of Mount Sinai changed a lot after my interview day, and I love it (big humanitarian/global focus as well as research). You never forget the first!

10/15: Columbia interview. Only one interview with a faculty member. It went ok, but I feel nothing spectacular, wish there could have been two so less was riding on it. I also got the feeling people aren't as happy as Mount Sinai, and the other interviewees were largely Ivy. I definitely got that Ivy feel a bit. Haven't lived in dorms in 6+ years, so Bard- yeah, enough said. I don't mind small space, I just feel people are pretty college-like still.

10/30: Just got a UCSF interview!!! I honestly didn't think it would be possible, but I fell in love when I visited last year, even though I was just wandering around. Wow, I guess by my excitement this may be my #1!

11/11: Got waitlisted at Sinai :( I loved this school and thought the interviews went really well, but then again it was my first. I guess I'll send an update letter in the spring sometime, hope to do some more volunteering and shadowing.

11/14: UCONN interview. Went pretty well. Except for the location, I actually really like the school, which I didn't expect. I would really recommend people go to all the interviews they can. You really can't know until you've seen the school and talked to students.

11/25: UCSF interviews went really well! One with an MS2 and one with a faculty member. Some interviews were off-site at other hospitals (free shuttle, ~20 minutes) but mine were both at the UCSF campus. This school is now no question my top choice, even though I'd wanted to stay in NY! I'm down for a 4 year California adventure! Better now than never :)