Application Cycle One: 2009

• Undergraduate college: University of Texas at Austin
• Undergraduate Area of study: Psychology/Social Sciences

• Institution: University of Maryland - College Park
• Area of Study: Premedical Studies
• Degree Obtained: n/a

• Total MCAT SCORE: 507
• MCAT Section Scores: B/B 127, C/P 127, CARS 126   Detailed Breakdown
• Overall GPA: 3.53
• Science GPA: 3.51

Summary of Application Experience

Yes, the application process is grueling, but the acceptance was well worth it. Here\'s my best advice:

-- Gain as much solid clinical, research, community service, and leadership experience as possible prior to applying. Identify the weak areas of your application and work on them.
-- Prepare for interviews. Practice as many questions and answers as possible. Even though you won\'t spit out the exact answers in your interviews, you will feel more comfortable discussing whatever questions they ask, and you won\'t be as nervous.
-- Be prepared for a difficult road ahead. Be prepared to be VERY patient. Not everyone gets an acceptance right away even if they apply early. I had all of my applications in by August and did not get my acceptance to Drexel until February. Drexel is the best fit for me and my husband so I withdrew from my waitlists, but it was a HARD 6 months to wait and not know if I was going to become a doctor or not.
-- Don\'t give up hope if you have a relatively weak MCAT score or GPA. I was convinced that my MCAT writing score of an \"M\" was going to doom me, but at least 3 schools were able to look past it and give me a shot.
-- Know why you want to become a doctor and be able to verbalize it without including \"Because I want to help people\" and \"Because I like science\". Everyone who wants to become a doctor wants to help people and loves science. What sets you apart? Do you know why you want to become a doctor? Are there other, less difficult, paths that you could take to achieve the same goal? If so, why did you decide to take this road instead?
-- Be sure to keep your personal statement focused. You should consider creating a central \"theme\" in your PS. For example, I was advised that I should connect my work background of 6 years in court systems to medicine. In my head, it was a natural connection since I have for a long time wanted a more \"hands-on\" position in courts, i.e. forensic pathology, adolescent psychiatry (working with juvenile delinquents), etc. Don\'t leave adcom members wondering why you\'re wanting to go into medicine.
-- Start drafting your PS early. See if you can find some med students to read your PS and offer feedback.

Good luck!! Feel free to email me, particularly if you\'re a nontrad student with questions.